Contact Information:

Sgt. Geoff Pushee
(603) 271-3361
November 15, 2023

Northwood, NH – Concerns Raised for Missing Hunter in Saddleback Mountain Area

On the evening of November 11, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the Northwood Police Department contacted NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers regarding an overdue hunter in the vicinity of Saddleback Mountain Road. The Northwood Police Department received a call from a landowner who had given permission to a hunter, identified as 67-year-old Nicholas Marshall from Chester, NH, to hunt on his property. The landowner expressed concern as Marshall had not emerged from the woods.

In response to the call, Conservation Officers, along with the Northwood and Deerfield Police Departments, swiftly mobilized to initiate a search for the missing hunter. Upon arrival at the scene, the landowner directed the responders to Marshall’s tree stand, where all his equipment was found at the base of the tree. It was soon apparent that Marshall had managed to shoot a deer and subsequently embarked on tracking it. Despite utilizing a NH Fish and Game K-9 unit to follow the trail, officers were unsuccessful in locating Marshall. Multiple attempts were made to signal Marshall using firearms, but these efforts did not elicit a response. After several hours of searching, at around 1:30 a.m., voice contact was established with Marshall, leading to his swift discovery. Remarkably, Marshall was found to be uninjured and able to walk out of the woods unaided.

During the subsequent interview, Marshall revealed that he had left behind all his equipment, including his flashlight and cell phone, under the assumption that he would quickly locate the deer. As he continued to pursue the deer deeper into the expansive Saddleback Mountain woods, darkness fell, and he made the decision to spend the night in the wilderness. Unfortunately, Marshall also mislaid his firearm while navigating through the darkness, which prevented him from signaling back to the officers.

This incident serves as a poignant reminder to all hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to prioritize preparedness and ensure they have essential gear readily available regardless of the circumstances. In Marshall’s case, he possessed all the necessary equipment to either extricate himself from the woods independently or request assistance, yet regrettably, he did not have it on his person when he needed it most.