Alton hunter found dead in woods, heart attack likely

By BEA LEWIS, for THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

ALTON — A local man who failed to return from bow hunting on Monday was found dead in the woods and is believed to have died of natural causes, according to a Conservation Officer.

The victim had gone to a mixed area of forest and fields in the vicinity of 117 New Durham Road early that morning and appears to have suffered a heart attack as a result of the exertion from climbing out of a tree stand, said Fish & Game Officer Chris Brison.

"He was a very avid sportsman and hunted and fished all the time. I'd just meet him last week, even though he wasn't in my patrol area," said Brison.

The man's son deployed a popular cell phone app used by hunters to locate each other and had pinged his fathers' phone when he did not return, and found him shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Brison said Fish and Game responded to investigate to assure that the man hadn't fallen on an arrow or sustained injuries in a fall from a tree stand. In this case there were no signs of injury or foul play, and Brison said he plans to characterize the cause of death as natural, unless an autopsy determines otherwise.

Hunters wearing a safety harness who fall from a tree stand quickly succumb to suspension trauma caused when blood flow to their heart is interrupted when they are suspended in an upright position with legs dangling and can lose consciousness within a few minutes and die within five, Brison cautioned.