Wife of missing country singer Craig Strickland says search area has been halved after rescuers find footprints

The wife of Craig Strickland has revealed that boat marks, footprints and paw prints have been found in the nearly week-long search for the missing country singer. 

Helen Strickland said the marks and prints were from last Sunday, when Strickland and his friend Chase Morland first entered the water for a duck hunting trip on Kaw Lake in Oklahoma.

Morland, 22, was found dead on Monday. Strickland's dog Sam was found alive, guarding the body of the singer's dead friend until it was discovered by authorities.

The wife of Craig Strickland has revealed that boat marks, footprints and paw prints have been found in the nearly week-long search for the missing country singer 

 

Helen Strickland said the marks and prints were from last Sunday, when Strickland and his friend Chase Morland first entered the water for a duck hunting trip on a lake in Kay County

There has still been no sign of 29-year-old Strickland, but Helen said the discovered prints have cut the search area for the Backcountry Anthem singer in half as they indicate the area where he and Morland were hunting.

'The search has been more confined today,' she tweeted on Friday. 'Approval has been given for more professional crews to join tomorrow.' 

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol have increased their daily search efforts,  bringing in a helicopter, four boats and search dogs, according to 40/29 News. 

Helen said the discovery of the prints have given the family some peace as the search mission continues. 

'To see how much more work can be done in a specific area, it has given us a lot of rest,' she told 40/29. 

Strickland (left) disappeared with friend Chase Morland when the two went on a duck hunting trip December 26 on Lake Kaw in Kay County. Morland's body was retrieved on Monday morning

There has still been no sign of 29-year-old Strickland, but Helen said the discovered prints have cut the search area for the Backcountry Anthem singer in half as they indicate the area where he and Morland were hunting 

On Friday Helen shared a sweet Instagram picture of her and three friends wrapped in blankets, thanking them for being there for her 'during one of my rougher days', she wrote in the caption 

'We feel like that'll give us a lot of hope they will find Craig soon.' 

On Friday Helen shared an Instagram picture of her and three friends wrapped in blankets and looking out as the sun began to set over the lake.

'Thank you to my sweet friends for being there for me during one of my rougher days,' she wrote in the caption. 

'You left everything to be there with me and I couldn't have made it to this point without you. You make me laugh when I wanted to just sit and cry.' 

'Thank you to everyone for all your continued prayers and support. Your prayers have helped get me through another day. Still searching.' 

A day before Helen shared highlighted verses from her husband's Bible that a family friend had discovered that week when she couldn't sleep. 

On Thursday Helen shared highlighted verses from her husband's Bible that a family friend had found in a closet one night when she couldn't sleep as she worried about Craig 

Underneath the verses Strickland had also scribbled 'Be independent and pure'. 

Helen wrote that her friend, unable to sleep amid the news of Strickland's disappearance, found the Bible while cleaning out a closet. 

'These Bible verses, which spoke to Craig, reminds us of God's intentions for our lives,' Helen wrote in a caption on Instagram. 

'No matter the outcome of this circumstance, the truth of God's words can comfort and give strength to each of us.' 

Twenty-four hours after Morland and Strickland left for the hunting trip on Sunday, family became worried when the two fell out of touch. 

At about midnight on Monday, the boat the pair was in was found capsized in Kaw Lake, according to News9.

Strickland's dog Sam was found alive Monday morning, guarding Morland's body. Helen said he did not leave Morland's side until authorties found his body

'Craig's dog being found alive is a very good sign,' Strickland's friend and Backroad Anthem bandmate Toby Freeman said. 'That's a piece of hope that we're actually clinging on to'

On Saturday night Morland, an avid hunter who worked at Gellco Outdoors, posted the above tweet just a few hours before he and Strickland left for their trip

Morland's body was recovered at 11.10am on Monday, according to US Weekly.

Prior to their hunting trip, Morland had posted a tweet on Saturday night that read: 'In case we don't come back, @BackroadCRAIG and I are going right through Winter Storm Goliath to kill ducks in Oklahoma.' 

Morland, an avid hunter who worked at Gellco Outdoors, ended the tweet with a smiley emoticon and the hashtag IntoTheStorm. 

Police did not reveal the cause of death but said no personal flotation devices had been used, according to CNN.   

Backcountry Anthem asked for prayers for Morland's family on Monday. 

'They were very close friends,' the band wrote of Morland and Strickland. 'It is such a heartbreaking loss.' 

Strickland's family has continued to remain hopeful after his dog Sam was found alive.

'Craig's dog being found alive is a very good sign,' Strickland's friend and Backroad Anthem bandmate Toby Freeman told People Magazine.

'That's a piece of hope that we're actually clinging on to.'

Craig and Helen have been married for just over a year. This photograph shows the happy couple on their wedding day in November 2014

Helen, the former Miss Arkansas USA 2014, said it has been the thoughts and prayers of strangers that have especially given her comfort as the search continues for her husband  

Freeman noted the fact that Sam was able to survive in harsh weather conditions despite his advanced age bodes well for Strickland.

'Anything that Craig put his mind to he could accomplish,' he said. 'He's so passionate about his wife, his family, the band – he had a fire in him for the things he loved.' 

Meanwhile Helen, the former Miss Arkansas USA 2014, said it has been the thoughts and prayers of strangers that have especially given her comfort. 

'Every time there's a post from some random person who I have never met before that says, "Hey, I don't know you, I'm reading this, I'm praying for you, my heart goes out to you," it's almost like I don't have to hurt on my own,' she said. 

Search crews plan to continue combing the lake until Strickland is found, a thought that comforts his wife. 

'It's more painful for us to think he could be underwater,' Helen said. 

'Still we want that closure in seeing him.'  

Strickland (center in black shirt) is the frontman for the country-rock band Backroad Anthem

The six-man group (above) is based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas and have been together since October 2012