HOUGHTON — An 82-year-old bear hunter from lower Michigan who was the focus of an extensive search is safe after spending the night in the Houghton County woods.

The man was in the Winona, Michigan area was in Houghton County hunting with family and friends. He reportedly left the camp about 4:30 p.m. Friday on a 2025 Polaris Ranger to bait his bear stand. Searchers found his ORV, then a trail camera and bait bucket about 150 feet away from the vehicle.

A search began and continued through Friday night into Saturday. A Houghton County Sheriff’s Office 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’s 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.