AULANDER – A hunter apparently fell to his death on Thursday.

Edmond Joseph Acree, 83, of Aulander was found dead at the bottom of his deer stand Thursday night after a two-hour search led by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Officer Tim Wadsworth, the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office and the Millennium Fire Department.

Wadsworth said he received a call shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday informing him that a hunter had not come back in from his day in the woods. The officer said he called the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office and then reported to the search area located near Dean’s Crossroads on N.C. 305.

“When I arrived, friends and other volunteers were already looking,” Wadsworth reported.

The Wildlife officer reported that Acree had driven a four-wheeler and it was found near the edge of the woods, leading searchers to believe he would be found within a small radius of the area.

At approximately 9 p.m., one of the groups searching for Acree found his body lying at the foot of his deer stand.

“It appeared he had fallen from the deer stand,” Wadsworth said. “The stand was twisted around the tree in a way that would seem to indicate a fall.”

Wadsworth also reported the death had been deemed to have occurred by external injuries related to a fall, according to the medical examiner’s findings.

Acree was a retired Assistant Superintendent of Bertie County Schools.

Wadsworth stressed his appreciation for the support given in the search for Acree.

“I appreciate all of the people coming out to help with the search,” he said. “Their willingness to help out and their efforts made it go more smoothly.”