Common sense goes a long way to staying alive! A Michigan man is lucky that his lack of it didn’t cost him his life. Here is the story as told by a person posting on the Michigan Sportsman forum:
NUNDA TOWNSHIP – A lost member of a local hunting party was found safe and unhurt early Saturday morning after area police were aided by a helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station at Traverse City.
Duane Buzzell, 62, of Onaway was assisting friends who were searching for a wounded bear they believed they had shot Friday evening near Indian River.
“Upon walking into the woods around 7 p.m. wearing a T-shirt, gym shoes and sweatpants, Buzzell left his group and decided he wasn’t properly dressed,” said Undersheriff Michael Newman. “As he was heading back he lost his way.”
The bear hunters returned, couldn’t account for Buzzell and searched until 10:30 p.m., when Cheboygan County Sheriff’s deputies were called to help, Newman said.
“The search efforts were concentrated on an area near Clute Road and Osmond Road in the Pigeon River State Forest,” Newman said.
The Cheboygan County Search and Rescue Team also became involved, and it was determined that an aerial view of the area would be best for finding the lost man.
A helicopter was dispatched and Coast Guard airmen found Buzzell at 5:25 a.m. waving his arms in a very wooded, swampy area. Buzzell was hoisted into the helicopter and taken to the Pellston Regional Airport, where a waiting ambulance took him to Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey, Mich., to be checked out. He was treated for mild hypothermia and released.
“Upon walking into the woods around 7 p.m. wearing a T-shirt, gym shoes and sweatpants, Buzzell left his group and decided he wasn’t properly dressed,” said Undersheriff Michael Newman. “As he was heading back he lost his way.”
The bear hunters returned, couldn’t account for Buzzell and searched until 10:30 p.m., when Cheboygan County Sheriff’s deputies were called to help, Newman said.
“The search efforts were concentrated on an area near Clute Road and Osmond Road in the Pigeon River State Forest,” Newman said.
The Cheboygan County Search and Rescue Team also became involved, and it was determined that an aerial view of the area would be best for finding the lost man.
A helicopter was dispatched and Coast Guard airmen found Buzzell at 5:25 a.m. waving his arms in a very wooded, swampy area. Buzzell was hoisted into the helicopter and taken to the Pellston Regional Airport, where a waiting ambulance took him to Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey, Mich., to be checked out. He was treated for mild hypothermia and released.
He is one lucky person to make it out with little or no problems. You should always take a compass and a GPS if you have one. Not to mention he should have had a side arm tracking a wounded bear in the dark! It amazes me what people will do without thinking things through. If your heading out into the woods, think before you go. Make sure you have got everything you might need in an emergency situation. It might save your life!
