Becker County authorities pull body of duck hunter out of lake

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. - The body of a 62-year-old Minneapolis man was recovered around 3 p.m. Tuesday from Rat Lake in north central Becker County.

The man, who had come to the area for duck hunting, was apparently in a duck boat that overturned, submerging the victim, according to a Becker County Sheriff's Office news release.

The identity of the man has not yet been released pending notification of family members. However, one family member indicated to authorities that the victim had been in Becker County since November 6.

An autopsy will be performed to determine whether the cause of death was drowning or a medical condition.

The body was recovered by divers in water less than 10 feet deep. The recovery came about after the White Earth Police Department began investigating an abandoned vehicle around 10 a.m. Because of the location near Rat Lake, the White Earth Conservation Department was asked to do a shoreline search, which led them to a small, overturned aluminum duck boat.

The victim's name will be released around noon Wednesday, the news release states.

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