Missing hunter's body found in Scott County

Scott County sheriff's deputies on Wednesday recovered the body of a Scott City man who disappeared Tuesday afternoon during a duck-hunting excursion.

The body of Zack Johnston, 23, was found about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said Johnston was found underwater in a standing position, wearing waders, near a pavilion off Scott County Road 303. Walter did not speculate on a time or cause of death.

A search-and-rescue team tracked Johnston to the location from a string of his belongings left along the way, including a camera bag, waders and hunting equipment.

Some of the search-team members wore ice-resistant wetsuits that allowed them to get into the frigid water.

Jimmy and Marsha Johnston walk to the staging area during the search Wednesday afternoon for their missing son, Zack.Glenn Landberg

Several agencies had patrolled the area near Nash Road and County Road 303 since 10 a.m. Wednesday after the sheriff's department received a call from Johnston's parents saying he was missing.

Johnston had left at 2 p.m. Tuesday to go duck hunting. He planned to go with a friend, but he went by himself after plans changed.

Johnston's parents, Jimmy and Marsha Johnston, began to worry when he did not return home at dusk. They called the sheriff's office when Jimmy Johnston found Zack's truck at County Road 303 with no tracks in the snow around it.

"It's every mother's worst nightmare," Marsha Johnston said at the scene Wednesday before her son's body was found. "He's the type of son any mother would love to have."

Walter said there probably was not anything law enforcement or the Johnston family could have done differently that would have prevented Zack's death.

An airboat arrives at the scene where officials from several jurisdictions searched Wednesday for missing hunter Zack Johnston in Scott County.Glenn Landberg

"It was an unfortunate accident," Walter said. "He was out here doing what he loved."

Marsha Johnston said her son was an avid hunter. Walter said photographing parts of the hunt was becoming Zack Johnston's hobby.

The search effort Wednesday included a Missouri State Highway Patrol helicopter, several boats and emergency vehicles. Responding agencies included Jackson Rescue, Cape Girardeau Rescue, Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department, Scott City Police Department, Scott City Fire Department, Scott County Emergency Management, North Scott County Ambulance Service and the New Hamburg, Benton and Commerce, Missouri, fire districts.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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