He’s a hundred pounds of muscle, full of energy, and proved today that he’s got one of heck of a nose and knows how to use it.

He is Bubba, a chocolate Labrador retriever and one of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) four-legged officers. It took him and his K-9 handler, FWC Officer Jeff Gier, about two hours this morning to locate a hunter who went missing about 4 p.m., Sunday in the Ocala National Forest.

The pair started searching for John N. Falcone, 38, about 8 a.m., today, slogging through ankle-to-knee-deep water in an extremely remote area of the forest near Lake Dexter. Around 10 a.m., Bubba led Gier to within shouting distance of Falcone, who was grateful to see the big, friendly dog and his human partner.

The FWC and Lake County Sheriff’s Office began searching for Falcone yesterday afternoon about four miles west of Alexander Springs, but heavy rain and winds associated with Hurricane Wilma made hearing difficult and hampered search efforts. Despite conditions, searchers from both agencies continued looking for Falcone into the night. About 4:30 a.m., FWC Lt. Gregg Eason and his squad of officers called off their search until daylight when Bubba and Gier were brought in from Volusia County to assist.

Falcone, who only started hunting this year, told FWC searchers he left his hunting tree stand about 4 p.m., Sunday, and headed back to the truck to meet his companions as planned. Somehow on the way to the truck he got turned around in the swampy forest and before he knew it was completely lost. He wandered around until dark attempting to find his way out of the woods. He finally gave it up and climbed a tree where he spent the night.

Aside from being practically eaten alive by mosquitoes, Falcone was in pretty good shape after his night in the woods, said Lt. Don McMillen, an FWC investigator and part of the search team.

“It’s really easy to get turned around in thick, swampy forest, especially after dark,” said McMillen. “Nobody ever plans on getting lost, but anyone hunting or hiking in remote areas should always bring along a few provisions and be prepared to spend a night in the woods just in case something unforeseen happens.”

As hunting season gets underway in central Florida, the FWC has a few safety tips for hunters:

Invest in a Global Positioning System unit, or GPS, and take the time to learn how to use it. GPS is a satellite navigation system that uses satellite technology to compute position. GPS can plot the electronic equivalent of a bread crumb trail to help people find their way to and from their hunting locations, or any other location they program into the handheld unit. In recent years GPS units have become affordable for many people.

Carry a compass and know how to use it.

Carry a cell phone or two-way radio.

Always let someone know where you will be and when you expect to be back.

If you get lost, just hunker down and wait for help to arrive. Since you’ve told someone where you are, you can be assured help will eventually be on its way.

When hunting, wear appropriate clothing that will help protect you from the elements.

Take a hunter safety course. For more information on FWC hunter safety classes log onto MyFWC.com/huntered


The FWC has 11 K-9 teams that are used for tracking and detection of certain wildlife species, and for area searches, and search and rescue missions. Each team is certified annually by the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). In June, Bubba and Gier were one of five FWC teams to be certified in Track Exceptional, a level of tracking achieved only by advanced-level dogs and handlers, and the first FWC teams to be certified as such since 1993.