CRYSTAL FALLS, MI-- A Muskegon hunter is safe, after he became lost and spent the night in remote Baraga County woods.
Iron County sheriff’s deputies received a call Monday around 5:45 p.m. from Leroy Carlston, 78, who was in the area hunting grouse. Carlston said he’d left Amasa that morning and followed unimproved roads up the Grade until he became disoriented. He said he had food and water and was staying in his vehicle.
Deputies from Iron and Baraga counties and troopers from the L’Anse detachment searched for Carlston until 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, then resumed the search around 7 a.m. Using GPS from Carlston’s phone they focused on the area around Ned Lake.
Officials say a Department of Homeland Security helicopter that was in the U.P. on an unrelated matter became available to searchers. As Carlston told searchers where he heard the chopper they were able to direct it to his location.
Tuesday around 4:30 p.m. the aircraft found Carlston in southern Baraga County between Ned Lake and South Nestoria Road. He was unharmed and in good spirits.
