OLD FORGE, N.Y. (WKTV) - A missing hunter from New Jersey has been found alive this morning after a weekend-long search surrounding Woodhull Lake after he was reported missing Saturday.

John Lawler, 76, came to the Adirondacks with four other men from a construction company where they all work, for a hunting trip.

He was found alive shortly after 11 a.m. near the Northeast corner of Sand Lake in the Town of Webb, Trooper Jim Simpson said.

Lawler was pulled out of the woods via helicopter and transported via Ambulance from Old Forge to St. Luke's Hospital in Utica, where he was in stable condition.

The men were staying in a lean-to near Woodhull Lake, and had presented Lawler with a shotgun for the trip just before he disappeared. The other four men tell NEWSChannel 2 that the trip was specially arranged just for Lawler.

The men had split up before 7:30 a.m. to survey the wooded area and any prey that might be within, with plans to meet up shortly.

When Lawler never showed, the other four men began searching for him around the nearby area of Bloodsucker Pond, only to have the search come up empty. That is when they contacted authorities.

The search for Lawler, including State Forest Rangers, State Troopers, local police, and volunteers form the Central Adirondack Search and Rescue Team turned up empty on Sunday, ending at nightfall.

Lawler's family has been in Old Forge as the search continued, and followed him to the hospital.