BURRELLTWP, Armstrong County — Ahiker Sunday found the body of a deer hunter missing since Nov. 27 in Crooked Creek Lake, authorities said.

Firefighters recovered the body of Patrick M. Fitzgerald, 46, of Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, in the lake near the boat launch off Robb's Fording Road about 5:30 p.m.

The cause of death, said Armstrong County Coroner Robert Bower, was pending an autopsy today.

The hiker about 4 p.m. spotted the body "partially submerged near shore,"said Trooper Shane Lash, and called 911.

Troopers, firefighters, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials and police dogs had done an immediate search for Fitzgerald after he went hunting and did not return home.

The Army Corps of Engineers even lowered the water level at Crooked Creek Lake in hopes of finding the man's body. The search continued for six days.

Authorities said Fitzgerald typically used a canoe at the lake in southern Armstrong County, and would paddle two or so miles upstream to hunt deer.

Police said Fitzgerald had called his family on a cell phone to say he was again doing that on Nov. 27, but he was never seen alive again.