Mystery Surrounds Search For Hunter
Willows (United States):
More than 24 hours after a deer hunter was reported lost or injured in the Mendocino National Forest, authorities still aren't sure there's anyone up there needing help.
Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said search and rescue volunteers scoured remote canyons off Forest Highway 7 until 1 a.m. Monday after a retired Willows firefighter reported by cellular phone that a man was heard yelling for help just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Doug Lederer, 52, said when he arrived in the area where the yelling was heard, the man began systematically firing his weapon as a distress signal.
Lederer and other hunters fired back, hoping the victim would realize they were searching for him. The man was later heard yelling that he'd fallen and injured himself.
After several minutes, the man stopped responding to the hunter's calls.
The mystery deepened when the hunters reported hearing what sounded like Hispanic males yelling in the canyon, followed by shots from multiple weapons in rapid succession.
Jones said it was initially feared the hunter had wandered into a marijuana grow site and became the target of armed guards.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter with special infrared heat-seeking cameras flew over much of the area, but found nothing.
Members of the county's Marijuana Eradication Team were called in, but found no signs of pot cultivation in the area.
The search was called off until early Monday morning, when rescue personnel ventured out again. They hiked more than two miles to reach remote hunting areas near Cold Creek and Ocean View without finding signs of hunters or a marijuana garden.
Some searchers reported encountering a group of Hispanic males pulling a wrecked car out of a nearby canyon, but Jones said the information couldn't be confirmed.
Jones said there are no reports of lost or overdue hunters in Glenn or Mendocino counties.
The effort was cut back Monday afternoon. Jones said he had one deputy in a four-wheel drive vehicle searching forest roads Monday afternoon for signs of anyone trying to hike out.
"We quickly deployed a lot of resources, and I think we used them appropriately," Jones said. Sept 19 2005
GREG WELTER,
Enterprise-Record, CA
http://www.chicoer.com/local_news/ci_3044308
Willows (United States):
More than 24 hours after a deer hunter was reported lost or injured in the Mendocino National Forest, authorities still aren't sure there's anyone up there needing help.
Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said search and rescue volunteers scoured remote canyons off Forest Highway 7 until 1 a.m. Monday after a retired Willows firefighter reported by cellular phone that a man was heard yelling for help just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Doug Lederer, 52, said when he arrived in the area where the yelling was heard, the man began systematically firing his weapon as a distress signal.
Lederer and other hunters fired back, hoping the victim would realize they were searching for him. The man was later heard yelling that he'd fallen and injured himself.
After several minutes, the man stopped responding to the hunter's calls.
The mystery deepened when the hunters reported hearing what sounded like Hispanic males yelling in the canyon, followed by shots from multiple weapons in rapid succession.
Jones said it was initially feared the hunter had wandered into a marijuana grow site and became the target of armed guards.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter with special infrared heat-seeking cameras flew over much of the area, but found nothing.
Members of the county's Marijuana Eradication Team were called in, but found no signs of pot cultivation in the area.
The search was called off until early Monday morning, when rescue personnel ventured out again. They hiked more than two miles to reach remote hunting areas near Cold Creek and Ocean View without finding signs of hunters or a marijuana garden.
Some searchers reported encountering a group of Hispanic males pulling a wrecked car out of a nearby canyon, but Jones said the information couldn't be confirmed.
Jones said there are no reports of lost or overdue hunters in Glenn or Mendocino counties.
The effort was cut back Monday afternoon. Jones said he had one deputy in a four-wheel drive vehicle searching forest roads Monday afternoon for signs of anyone trying to hike out.
"We quickly deployed a lot of resources, and I think we used them appropriately," Jones said. Sept 19 2005
GREG WELTER,
Enterprise-Record, CA
http://www.chicoer.com/local_news/ci_3044308
