It is very sad this happened and who knows what caused the boat issue......they might well have had on life jackets but maybe hit a dead head in the dark on a piece of water they have traveled 100 times before.....maybe they were running late, rushing - trying to beat daylight, we have all been there.
How many waterfowl hunters chomp at the bit when they see a big storm is brewing and just maybe you will have one of those epic days? I know I do......Those big storms can bring in a lot of new birds.
Very sad indeed and a good reminder to be careful out there cause things can turn bad very quickly in the frigid waters.