MN Firearms Safety

Two duck hunters died after their boat overturned Thursday morning in the Spring Lake section of the Mississippi River north of Hastings.

Other hunters found the boat about 10:40 a.m., said the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. Hunters found the body of Dennis Portz, 53, of Lake Elmo at about 11 a.m. along the south shore of the lake in Nininger Township. Authorities found the body of the other hunter, Dennis Evans, 49, of Hastings, at about 4:20 p.m., also along the south shore, said Chief Deputy Sheriff Dave Bellows.

One other duck hunter has died this season, on opening day, Oct. 27, in Cass County, said Tim Smalley, boating safety specialist for the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He said the state averages one or two duck hunter deaths a year.

Before Thursday, the state had 14 boating fatalities this year, compared with 29 in all of 2002, Smalley said. He said that the river temperature is in the low to mid-30s and that hypothermia sets in quickly. The DNR recommends that upset boaters get back on or in their boat and keep as much of their bodies out of the water as possible.