Police in western Newfoundland say they have identified a body that was found in Port au Port Bay last week as the remains of a hunter who has been missing since January.

Richard Duffney of West Bay went missing while duck hunting in late January.

A ground search team was complemented by an air search and divers, but crews could find no sign of Duffney in the days after his disappearance.

The RCMP said an autopsy found that Duffney had died from "hypothermia resulting from immersion."

Duffney's snowmobile had been found along the shoreline of West Bay. Residents believe he may have left his machine in an attempt to retrieve a duck on nearby ice.