MELDRUM BAY—The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is hailing the outdoor survival skills of an 81-year-old hunter who went missing in the bush around Meldrum Bay last Thursday evening.
On Thursday, November 13 at 5:19 pm, the Island OPP was notified by family members that their 81-year-old father had gone bow hunting earlier in the afternoon and failed to return home. The area he was hunting in was located off Highway 540 in Dawson Township near Meldrum Bay.
Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team and the OPP Canine Unit attended the area and commenced a search for the elderly man. His tree stand was located with his backpack covered in snow, the OPP reports. Officers continued throughout the night to search for the man.
At around 5:30 am on Friday, November 14, officers located the man in a sheltered tree area in good condition. Officers learned that the hunter left his tree stand to survey the property and became disoriented in a snow squall. He was an experienced outdoorsman and was dressed for the weather with insulated thermal wear, together with a warm hat, gloves and waterproof boots. When the gentleman got lost he obtained shelter and stayed put. He did not require any medical attention.
Community Services Officer Constable Al Boyd explained that a search and rescue helicopter had been queued for daybreak and that the man was not from Manitoulin Island and was unfamiliar with the area.
“So many times these searches end in tragedy,” said Staff Sergeant Kevin Webb, detachment commander of the Manitoulin OPP. “In this incident the hunter took responsibility to let family know where he was and when he would be home. He was properly dressed for weather and he knew enough to obtain shelter and stay in one place so he could be found. These are simple rules that adverted a real tragedy.”
