Local Hunter Gets Lost In The Woods While Bear Hunting
WHARTON TOWNSHIP (KDKA)- Emergency crews were able to help a hunter find his way out of the woods after becoming lost Saturday evening.
According to officials, the search for 38-year-old Michael Wishard, of Hunker, began at approximately 6:15 p.m. in Fayette County.
Wishard had been hunting bear in the area of Shepherd and Brethren Summit Roads in Wharton Township.
Harry Wishard, Michael's father, contacted Pennsylvania State Police to report that Michael was bear-hunting all day and became disoriented when trying to leave the woods.
"'Mom, I'm lost,'" said Michael's father. We thought he was kidding, but he texted, 'No. I'm lost."
Michael is hearing-impaired, but was communicating via text message with his parents. He told them that he was okay, but he couldn't find his way out of the woods. He was more off-track than he originally thought.
A helicopter, volunteers from the Farmington Fire Department, Fayette EMS and a couple local residents came to help.
His dad texted him fire his rifle. No one heard the first round.
"He shot a second time and they heard the gunshot," said Harry. One fireman heard the gunshot, and said he's way back in there."
Eventually, the helicopter spotted him.
"He shined the light up on the helicopter, they shined it down on him, and that's how they got him out of the woods," said Harry.
Michael started hunting around 6 a.m. that morning and officials considered him exhausted and dehydrated. He was able to walk out of the woods with assistance that evening.
Fayette EMS transported him to Uniontown Hospital as a precaution.
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