Man stuck in mud while dove hunting near Wood Duck
STANTON, Neb. -- The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said they received a 9-1-1 call that a dove hunter was stuck in mud near Wood Duck.
SCSO said around 10:45 a.m. Monday, they were called to an area on the west end of the Wood Duck Recreation Area for a dove hunter stuck in mud "quicksand" up to his waist.
The Sheriff's Office said it took about 30 minutes to find the 25-year-old hunter using sirens.
The hunter was found by Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger in a pond that appeared dried out.
"It was actually saturated mud that he sunk into above his waist," Unger said.
Officials said the hunter wasn't able to use his shotgun because it was packed with mud, and he wasn't able to safely fire it to notify responders to where he was.
Unger said the hunter was finally able to be removed using rescue ropes by members of the Sheriff's Office and fire personnel.
SCSO said the man was treated at the scene for dehydration by EMS and declined going to the hospital.
To help find the hunter, SCSO said he was able to use his cell phone to call 9-1-1, and this assisted by pinging his approximate location that was a very dense marsh area and wetlands.
SCSO said others who responded to the scene were Stanton Fire and Rescue, Norfolk Fire and Rescue, and the two helping with drones were Stanton County Emergency Management and the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Nebraska Game and Parks also responded to the scene.
SCSO said this is at least the third time in seven years that a hunter has gotten stuck or bogged down in heavy mud in the Wood Duck area.
Wood Duck is about six miles southwest of Stanton.