Troopers find missing hunter near Tanana after weather grounded search a day

A hunter who failed to return to his camp near Tanana on Monday was found alive Wednesday by two Alaska Wildlife Troopers helicopters, after weather grounded aircraft a day earlier. He declined medical treatment and was returned to camp.

His hunting partner reported he had not returned as planned on Monday, Sept. 14. Troopers received the report Sept. 15, but weather prevented an aerial search that day. Helo 2 and Helo 7, both trooper helicopters, responded Wednesday, Sept. 16, and located him, according to dispatch AK26091915.

Troopers did not specify the conditions during the search. At Tanana's Calhoun Memorial Airport, the cloud ceiling fell through Tuesday afternoon to 500 feet in rain and mist, with gusts to 21 knots. By Wednesday morning it had lifted to about 4,000 feet.

Helo 2 also flew the Sept. 7 rescue of a moose hunter after a medical emergency on the upper Chistochina River. On Sept. 1, troopers searched near Halibut Cove for a solo hunter who had been sending his position to his wife by satellite messenger until he lost the device. He was found safe the next day.