Missing hunter found alive in Volusia County

EDGEWATER, Fla. — A hunter who disappeared in the woods in Volusia County was found alive just before 3 p.m. Saturday, deputies said.

John Schilling, 65, and his cousin were in the woods hunting for hogs when the two became separated around 12:30 p.m. Friday, deputies said.

Schilling called his cousin to say he was in some thick brush and was lost. The cousin drove to 35th Street and told Schilling to fire off rounds so he could find him; however, that didn’t work, deputies said.

Deputies, along with officers with the Edgewater Police Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, were called Friday and Saturday afternoon to help in the search.

Search dogs located Schilling about 2 miles from where the hunter first entered the woods, deputies said.

"We had some officers who were looking and it looked like someone had laid in them (the heavy brush), what they described to us. So we were able to deploy the K-9 unit to that area and through the K-9 unit, we were able to locate the individual out in the woods," Capt. Herbert Frerking, with the FWC, said.

Schilling is being medically evaluated. Deputies said he was suffering from dehydration, but otherwise is in good condition.

Authorities advise that anyone who becomes lost in the woods with no way of calling for help, should go to an open space where the sky can be seen and hunker down.

Cox Media Group