Lost hunter update - Dec. 5, 04

[Anonymous]

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 04

The first group of airboater volunteers is set to deploy tomorrow(Thursday) AM.

The law enforcement officials are requesting all of the help possible. As of 2130 hours, Wednesday, still NO sign of Mr. Huff, 76, has been found.

The search is taking place in the Green Swamp (East) off of State Road 471. Volunteers searchers can enter off either SR 471 or Rock Ridge Road and report directly to the command center. The command center is located approximately at the midway point.

Persons who are knowledgeable of the woods and know how to perform a search, like tracking wounded game, are desperately needed!

Too many want-to-be searchers dressed in shorts and sandals have caused more of a hindrance than a help.

Anyone wishing to participate should wear proper rough terrain clothing, complete with a blaze orange vest and have a personal compass or GPS, machete and water. Although food is being provided, all volunteers should come self-sufficient.

Camping is available for those wishing to stay overnight or for several days.

The search is expected to go on through the weekend if Mr. Huff is not located prior to then.

This effort is a great opportunity for the airboating community to demonstrate its community spirit while achieving a worthwhile goal.

Maps of the area can be obtained at the following URLs:

-http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recguide/pdf/12.pdf-

-http://www.wildflorida.org/hunting/wma/SW_Region/greenswamp-web.pdf-

WaterLizard 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Update - Dec. 2, 04

There was a good response today by fellow airboaters assisting in the
search for the missing hunter in the Green Swamp. Airboaters from
Kissimmee, Tampa, Zepher Hills, Bartow and Lake Wales participated in
Thursday's search.

Regrettably, Mr. Huff was not located.

Hopefully, more fellow airboaters will show up and participate
tomorrow.

If the search is unsuccessful tomorrow, Friday, a full blow out
search is planned for Saturday.

On Saturday, there will be a motorized, foot, horseback and air
search. It is planned to cover every possible square foot of land
where Mr. Huff may be located, which may involve re-searching
previously searched areas to eliminate the possibility of oversight.
Anyone having horses is welcome to bring them to assist in the search
effort.

Camping is available without charge.

The Huff family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of help from
the community. Charlie Huff is a long time Polk County resident and
has hunted the Green Swamp for over 15 years.

For Charlie's body to not be found will be devastating to his family.
I encourage everyone who can to come out and help locate Mr. Huff and
bring closure to his family's suffering.

Anyone wishing to participate in Saturday's search effort should be
at the command post, located inside the East Green Swamp WMA, off of
State Road 471, north of Lakeland, at 7:00 AM. Check with the Check Station for directions once inside the WMA.

I will look forward to seeing you Saturday.

WaterLizard 8)

 

[Anonymous]

The search for the missing 76-year-old hunter in the Green Swamp has been called off.
Over 225 volunteer civilian, law enforcement and fire-rescue search personnel responded to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's request for help Saturday, December 4th. Using search dogs, helicopters, horses, ATVs and on-foot volunteers, the FWCC convassed the area of the Green Swamp where Charlie Huff was believed to be.
After 10 days of relentless searching of the area where Charlie Huff's truck was found and beyond the official search was terminated.
May God bless Charlie's soul and his family, who is without a body to bury that would bring closure to their suffering.

WaterLizard