HOUGHTON — A lower Michigan bear hunter, the subject of an extensive search, is safe after spending the night in the Houghton County Woods. According to a release from the Houghton County Sheriff’s office, the 82-year-old man was in the Winona area hunting with family and friends. He reportedly left the camp at around 4:30 Friday afternoon to bait his bear stand. He was traveling on his 2025 Polaris Ranger. A trail cam located the man’s bait buck about 150 from the ORV.

A search began and continued through Friday night into Saturday. A Houghton County deputy told the Gazette, the man walked out of the woods on his own sometime Saturday afternoon and is in good condition.

Agencies assisting the Sheriff’s office in the search included the Keweenaw County Sheriff Office, Keweenaw Search and Rescue, Superior Search and Rescue, Baraga County Search and Rescue, Michigan State. Police, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Twin Lakes Fire Department.

A press release is expected to be released later Sunday afternoon