Lost hunter find way out of the woods after four-hour search

A lost man found his way out of the woods near Barneys River Station in Pictou County at about midnight Sunday after getting turned around while hunting.

RCMP, ground search and rescue personnel and firefighters with a drone all responded after police were contacted just after 8 p.m. when the hunter couldn’t find his way out.

Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay said the man finally made it to a residence after hearing car horns in the distance shortly before midnight.

The man has been able to make one call while lost, but then his phone’s battery died.

“We always encourage individuals to have a fully charged cellphone when they go in the woods, and also a change of clothing and survival equipment,” Tremblay said. Most importantly, you should always tell someone your plans on where you’re going, when you’re coming back, where you cab be reached and make sure someone calls for help or assistance for you if you don’t return when you planned to.”

Tremblay said he didn’t know what caused the 66-year-old Lunenburg County man to become overdue, “but it sounds like he may have become disoriented in the woods.”

He said that can happen more easily when there are weather events that change the appearance of the woods, even for hunters who are familiar with an area, making emergency gear and a compass important.

The man was not injured, Tremblay said.