BREAKING: Duck hunter drowns in Bitter Lake; two others rescued
October 21, 2019
Mike Tanner
KWAT Radio News
WEBSTER, S.D.—A 38 year-old duck hunter from Minnesota drowned in Bitter Lake south of Waubay over the weekend.
Day County Sheriff Ryan Rucktaeschel tells KWAT News three Twin Cities men were duck hunting on the west side of the lake Saturday morning when their boat began taking on water. The initial 911 call was received at 6:45 a.m.
Two Watertown men who were also on the lake at the time heard cries for help. They were able to rescue two of the men who were were taken to Sanford Hospital in Webster to be treated for hypothermia. A female hunting dog was also rescued.
The body of the hunter who drowned was recovered in 14 feet of water by two conservation officers with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department.
Rucktaeschel says there were life jackets on the boat. He says the reason the boat sank remains under investigation, but he says it may have been due to, “overloading” of people and hunting gear.
Codington County Search and Rescue brought divers to the lake Saturday afternoon. They used air bags to raise the boat out of the water and bring it to shore.
The names of the hunters have not been released.
