LITTLE RIVER — S.C. Department of Natural Resource files reveal more details about missing duck hunter Tyler Doyle’s disappearance and the search operation, which is about to enter its third month.

Doyle, a 22-year-old husband and father to-be, disappeared after his boat capsized while duck hunting in Little River Inlet.

The search area so far has included Little River Inlet by the South Carolina-North Carolina border, south toward Cherry Grove in Horry County and north into Sunset and Holden beaches in Brunswick County, N.C.

“We don’t have an end date,” DNR spokesman Greg Lucas said regarding the search. “We are still hoping for a recovery.”

The state agency confirmed Doyle’s body has not been recovered. Doyle’s family did not respond for comment.

The agency recently released witness testimonies, call logs, incident reports from Jan. 26 and photos of Doyle’s items that have been found so far, including Doyle’s waders and wallet. Doyle’s wallet included several credit/debit cards, his DNR hunting license, a couple of business cards and $405 in cash.

The agency also identified Christian Holden of Aynor as the hunter with Doyle on Jan. 26. Holden did not respond to a comment request.

DNR’s records support the agency’s report from last month, which ruled out foul play in Doyle’s disappearance. The case is being considered a hunting/boating accident.

Doyle was duck hunting when he dropped off Holden near the north jetty so he could scout and put out decoys. In rough seas that led to a small-craft advisory, Doyle called Holden to say the motor on his 16-foot jon boat stopped running and started taking on water.

This account is supported by witness statements and DNR’s boating accident report.

Doyle never called 911, but he called Holden and another off-site friend, Brandon Tyler of Loris, and asked them to call for help.

Holden tried to call the U.S. Coast Guard twice before calling 911 at 4:51 p.m. and 4:59 p.m., according to his call log.

When Holden called 911, he said Doyle called him “freaking out” because the boat was sinking. Doyle’s boat drifted out of sight past the jetties toward the ocean.

When Holden called 911 again, he said the boat he eventually flagged down could not reach Doyle like he hoped. DNR’s report includes both of these accounts.

When Doyle called Holden at 4:45 p.m., Holden said Doyle was “panicking” about how his boat engine would not run.

“He was more frantic and said his boat was about to go under,” Holden’s witness statement read. “I told him to go through everything he could do to get the motor running. (…) I tried calling Tyler (Doyle) back at 4:57 p.m. and the call went straight to voicemail.”

While these 911 calls were made, Doyle reportedly called another boat mechanic to “see what remedial actions he could do to remedy the situation,” according to DNR’s report.

“Tyler (Doyle) was under a great deal of duress as his boat was swamped,” the report states.

Rescue crews picked up Holden off the jetty, and they found Doyle’s boat mostly submerged with the bow up. Doyle reportedly was swept into the current near the state border. He was last seen wearing camouflaged waders and a green camo shirt, according to DNR.

This comes two weeks after Horry County Fire Rescue and 911 Dispatch released incident reports and 911 call recordings that also supported the state agency’s report ruling out foul play.

The Department of Natural Resources is getting assistance from the Brunswick County, N.C.; Sheriff’s Office; N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; nonprofit search-and-rescue group Wings of Hope; Doyle’s family; and other volunteers. North Myrtle Beach Rescue Squad, Horry Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard also have helped.

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