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Contact: Edie Smith, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333


Telephone: work (207) 592-4348

Fax: (207) 287-6395


December 12, 2010

Muzzleloader Hunter Rescued After Overnight Search

Augusta, Maine - A 23-year-old muzzleloader hunter from Howland who was reported missing by his father at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday was located and rescued from an island at approximately 3:30 a.m. today.

Josh Spaulding, 23, left his Howland home yesterday to hunt for deer in an area off Route 116 on the last day of muzzleloader season. When he did not return home, his father, Kenneth Spaulding, contacted the Maine Warden Service and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and a search was initiated.

Based on information provided by Kenneth Spaulding, Wardens Mike Boyer and Paul Farrington, and PCSO Deputy Mike Knights searched for Josh Spaulding, finding tracks in the snow and following them for some time. After several hours, voice contact was made with Josh, who had crossed a stream that feeds into the now-flooded Penobscot River while chasing a deer that also crossed the stream. Josh Spaulding became stranded on an island that was surrounded by high waters. He was able to make a fire to keep warm.

According to MWS Sgt. Ron Dunham, the area had received 15 inches of snow earlier in the week, and ice has blocked water flows into the Penobscot River, causing high water levels behind it.

Temperatures were in the 20s Saturday night and thin ice had formed on the stream overnight. Sgt. Dunham deployed the department’s hovercraft to the area, and he was able to get 50 feet from where Josh was located because of timber and debris in the water.

Josh Spaulding had to break the ice with his feet and hands and wade through the waist-deep water to get to the hovercraft. He was pulled aboard and brought to safety at approximately 3:30 a.m. He was wet and cold, but suffered no major injuries. No medical attention was needed.