Volunteer Agencies Rescue Stranded Duck Hunters Near Dam B

Photo Courtesy of Beech Grove VFD

At approximately 2:30 p.m., Texas State Park Police from Martin Dies, Jr. State Park contacted the Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department requesting assistance with stranded duck hunters near Dam B on the Tyler County side of the reservoir.

Beech Grove VFD responded with its ProDrive shallow-water rescue boat and met with State Park Police units. Together, crews quickly located the hunters, who had driven their mud boat into extremely shallow water and become grounded.

Initial attempts to free the boat were unsuccessful. Due to the conditions and the boat’s position, assistance was requested from the Jasper County Emergency Corps, which responded with a larger and more powerful shallow-water rescue vessel.

After coordinated efforts by both agencies, the hunters’ boat was successfully freed and recovered from its grounded location.

Photo Courtesy of Beech Grove VFD

The hunters, who were from the Houston area, reported being stranded for several hours prior to rescue. They stated they had contacted multiple tow-boat companies for assistance but were told that none serviced the Jasper County area.

Both Beech Grove VFD and the Jasper County Emergency Corps are all-volunteer organizations whose members donate their time to assist anyone in need. While neither agency operates as a tow-boat service, both responded when requested in the absence of a commercial option.

The Jasper County Emergency Corps was established in the early 1970s as a volunteer search-and-rescue organization under then-Sheriff Aubrey Cole of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Since its formation, the group has responded to thousands of calls across the county and continues to serve the community today.