HAMMOND, Maine — A 77-year-old Linneus man who had apparently gotten lost while bird hunting and spent the night in the woods was found Sunday evening.
Caroline Hailey, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said in a statement Sunday that Ralph Bubar, who was last seen at approximately noon Saturday in Houlton, was found by a Littleton man at 5:30 p.m. after his wife read about the search on the Bangor Daily News website.
Bubar was able to walk out of the woods with assistance and was given a ride to an awaiting ambulance.
Hailey said Bubar’s son became concerned Saturday evening when his father had not returned home and began searching spots his father was known to frequent.
He found Bubar’s Ford Ranger, with the key in the cupholder, in Hammond.
Bubar had hunted and cut wood in that area before.
The Maine Warden Service began searching with crews and dogs on Saturday evening and a Maine Forest Service helicopter from their Old Town headquarters was being used in the search, according to Jeffrey Currier of the Maine Forest Service.
Hailey said that Bubar was found by Marty Fitzpatrick, 37, from Littleton, after he and his family went to the end of a dirt road he was familiar with in Hammond and yelled for him.
Bubar responded to Fitzpatrick by calling out to him. He was taken by Houlton ambulance to Houlton Regional Hospital to be checked out.
Six forest rangers from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Maine Forest Service, local volunteers and Maine Search and Rescue Dogs joined game wardens in the search for the hunter.
Praying for a good outcome. Maybe he just got turned around :-) Prayers are with the family and friends of Mr.Bubar
A person of that age all by himself in the woods should be carrying a Satellite Personal Locator Beacon. They cost about $300 but well worth it. You press the distress button, the authorities get the alert and can find you within a few hours. These devices will work where cell phones don’t work. I always carry one with me when I’m in the woods, just in case I get lost or sense a heart attack coming on.
I agree they are good for any outdoor enthusiasts. Anyone interested can find more out about them at the following link: http://www.findmespot.com/en/
The Spot will work too. But, the PLBs are more reliable for distress use. See the following website for the reasons why: http://www.energyindustryphotos.com/a_guide_to_personal_locator_beac.htm
Where do I find one of these. This is my Dad. He was found a short time ago and is Ok. They are checking him out at the hospital but he was walking when they found him.
The two people who have suggested them, have posted links.
Your a great help.
Glad your Dad was found Cheryl.
Google “spot locator” on line Cheryl. My husband has one, it’s awesome. They have different models but are simple to use. Well worth it. Glad he’s safe and sound.
Cheryl, thank the good Lord they found your dad safe and sound. And you can also thank mother nature (probably one and the same) for providing above-freezing weather last night to keep your dad from freezing. I’m sure LL Bean carries these life-saving devices. You can also buy them on the internet…try Amazon.com. Buy your dad one of these for Xmas. There is one called SPOT and sells for about $120. The PLB devices are three times more expensive but they are apparently more reliable.
This has already been posted by others, but I will repeat it. I researched this brand when another person was missing. http://www.findmespot.com/en/ In my opinion, this is the best for outdoor use.
For others, who tend to wander or drive away and get lost, a good cell phone with GPS can help locate them. That does require being sure the phone has a full charge and is on their person, or less desirable in the vehicle. I say less desirable because in Mass an elderly man drove a great distance, I believe, from Arlington to Orleans, on Cape Cod and then left his vehicle. The gentelman was found deceased on the front porch of a nearby home, after a brief search. There are many inexpensive and/or free services online to locate cell phone signals.
I am glad your Dad is OK and was found safely.
I also hope for a good outcome. But if not, then at least this man was doing something he enjoyed, hunting.
On Facebook:
Maine Forest Rangers
SUBJECT HAS BEEN FOUND ALIVE!
He has been found….Safe, walking down the road. Went to hospital to get checked out.
from part of the Bubar family thank you to all the game wardens and searchers for finding our dad Ralph Bubar Sr.
I am not family, nor do I know this gentleman, but I would like to add my thanks to all who searched, bringing him safely from the woods.
I have offered a prayer of thanks to God, who kept him and his rescuers safe bringing this to a happy conclusion. Kudos to his family for raising timely alarms to get rescuers out there.
thank you to the game wardens and searcher from part of the Bubar family for finding our dad Ralph Bubar Sr. safe
thank to all the game wardens, forest service and local volunteers both family and friends for finding our dad Ralph Bubar Sr. safe
Very Good news, God was with him.
And Linneus Fire Department
Good that he’s alright…I hope this doesn’t stop you sir from hunting again, it keeps you out of that rockin chair. Things like this can happen to anyone!
Tell us more about how dumb we are! I wish we could all be as smart as you.
Good work, Marty!
time to get a compass/map, or a GPS… and learn how to use them.. getting lost this time of year is likely to get you killed…
Glad he is alright, I think Tiger McAfee was looking out for him .
Glad that he is outa’ the woods and all’s OK. I know how easy it is to get turned around when you get off the trail looking for partridge.