Lost bird hunter located after search

    HODGDON — A 22-year-old Houlton man, who spent the night lost in the woods Saturday, was located Sunday evening following a lengthy search.
    T.J. Quint, Jr. left his home at 5 a.m. Saturday to go bird-hunting, according to Edie Smith of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
    “Relatives became worried after he didn’t return after dark and his truck was found at 9 p.m. in Hodgdon,” Smith said. “A search by the Maine Warden Service overnight included the Warden Service’s K-9 team, however Mr. Quint was not located.”
    Saturday evening was cool and wet, with temperatures in the 40s.
    On Sunday morning, replacement K-9’s were brought in, a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter was called and a grid search continued with Maine Warden Service, Border Patrol, the Maine Forest Service from the Department of Conservation, Hodgdon Fire Department and Maine Search and Rescue Dogs. Several local volunteers also joined the search effort.
    Quint was located in a bog near the South Townline Road in Hodgdon by Maine Game Warden Michelle Merrifield and her tracking dog. He was in good condition and, according to wardens, “lost his way in a large area of farmland with several ATV trails. He got turned around and was unable to find his way out.”
    Quint could not immediately be rescued as he was in a “very spongy, difficult area of a bog,” according to Smith. He was not harmed, was drinking water and able to communicate with Warden Merrifield before he was eventually rescued later Sunday.