By Rachel Slavik, WCCO-TV

BUFFALO, N.D. (WCCO) — Flooding in the Red River valley has turned deadly. Two men drowned in the Maple River southwest of Fargo while beaver hunting.

For 34 years, the Maple River was Michael Miller and Dewey Grieve’s favorite get away.

“Both of them were great friends, great outdoors men, loved to do things together,” said David Calderwood, Miller’s brother-in-law.

The river was their go to spot for beaver hunting.

“They knew everything and all of what was out there,” Calderwood said.

On Thursday evening, however, the two friends did not return home. With their truck still parked by the river’s side, their loved ones feared the worst.

“There’s a time and place for every body and everything, and it was one of those things,” Calderwood said.

Early Friday morning, authorities discovered their bodies downstream, not far from their small aluminum boat.

“The big thing is that they were together … doing what they loved to do,” Calderwood said.

Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said the tragic accident serves as a reminder to stay off the rivers until the flood waters recede. The two men weren’t wearing life jackets, Laney said.