Duck calls lead EMS to hunters stranded on frozen Beaver Creek

Three hunters were rescued from Beaver Creek on Monday after duck calls helped emergency officials find their stranded boat.

Authorities said two men and a woman went out on the creek in Apex at about 4:30 a.m. to hunt ducks. The hunters, who did not want to be identified, told WRAL News that they forgot one boat paddle and broke the other one when they used it to break through the icy creek.

While the trio was hunting, the ice refroze around the boat, and they were unable to get through it again to return to shore, authorities said.

The hunters eventually called for help, but when emergency officials were unable to locate the stranded boat, the hunters used duck calls to alert authorities to their location.

The three hunters were about 1.5 miles away from shore when they were rescued and were showing signs of the onset of hypothermia, according to a wildlife resource officer.

All three were checked by paramedics at the scene and released, authorities said.

The boat was towed back to shore, authorities said.