mooseburger
10-26-2007, 04:22 AM
By KEVIN CRUSH, SUN MEDIA
Abandoning his stranded all-terrain vehicle might have led to the death of a northern Alberta hunter.
David Auger, 28, was found dead Wednesday northwest of Red Earth Creek, which is approximately 350 km north of Edmonton.
The hunter, from the small native community of Loon Lake, went hunting on Oct. 20 to a cabin in the heavily wooded area. The next evening his family got a call from Auger telling them he was lost but that he was going to make his way to a road.
He made a second call to the family on the morning of Oct. 22 and said his cell phone battery was losing power.
A search party of Fish and Wildlife officers, Mounties and around 100 people from the communities of Loon Lake and Red Earth Creek was put together.
On the evening of Oct. 23 rescuers found his abandoned quad which had become stuck. His body was found the next afternoon not far from the quad - just 500 metres away from a road.
Merv Purschke, owner of Buck Mountain Outfitters, said if you're lost, stay where you are.
"You're asking for trouble. You've got to stay with your machine (quad) and light a fire," said the guide of 20 years.
An autopsy is scheduled but Auger is believed to have died from exposure.
From talking to the family, Red Earth Creek RCMP Sgt. Duncan MacInnis said it appears Auger was not a seasoned hunter.
Abandoning his stranded all-terrain vehicle might have led to the death of a northern Alberta hunter.
David Auger, 28, was found dead Wednesday northwest of Red Earth Creek, which is approximately 350 km north of Edmonton.
The hunter, from the small native community of Loon Lake, went hunting on Oct. 20 to a cabin in the heavily wooded area. The next evening his family got a call from Auger telling them he was lost but that he was going to make his way to a road.
He made a second call to the family on the morning of Oct. 22 and said his cell phone battery was losing power.
A search party of Fish and Wildlife officers, Mounties and around 100 people from the communities of Loon Lake and Red Earth Creek was put together.
On the evening of Oct. 23 rescuers found his abandoned quad which had become stuck. His body was found the next afternoon not far from the quad - just 500 metres away from a road.
Merv Purschke, owner of Buck Mountain Outfitters, said if you're lost, stay where you are.
"You're asking for trouble. You've got to stay with your machine (quad) and light a fire," said the guide of 20 years.
An autopsy is scheduled but Auger is believed to have died from exposure.
From talking to the family, Red Earth Creek RCMP Sgt. Duncan MacInnis said it appears Auger was not a seasoned hunter.