Alaska State Troopers were notified of an overdue deer hunter in the Sitka area on Oct. 29. Alaska Wildlife Troopers, USCG, and Sitka SAR, conducted land-based searches on Wednesday, with three search teams combing in the remote wooded area that they reached with the help of a state trooper vessel and Sitka search-and-rescue vessel.
By 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the remains 50-year-old Tad Fujioka of Sitka were found near a deer carcass. Investigation revealed he was the likely victim of a fatal bear mauling.
Fujioka, who was a salmon troller, was chairman of the Board of Directors of Seafood Producers Cooperative and was active in advocacy for the troll fishery in Southeast Alaska. He was also a parent.
