An autopsy is being performed on a Cleveland, Tenn., man found dead early Sunday in Sequatchie County where he had been hunting on leased property on Saturday.
Sequatchie County Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock said 44-year-old Steve Wilson's body was found lying on the ground by his tree stand on a remote tract of property on Lewis Chapel Mountain around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
Lewis Chapel Mountain is on Walden's Ridge about five miles east of Dunlap, Tenn.
Wilson's family had been unable to reach him when he was reported missing, Hitchcock said.
Wilson was hunting on private property where people pay to hunt specified blocks of land, Hitchcock said. Wilson had "signed in" on a specific tract, so rescuers had a good idea where to start looking.
A Jeep, believed to be Wilson's, was found nearby, he said. A towing company recovered the vehicle.
"They don't know whether he was was going up the stand when he fell or already at the top," Hitchcock said. He said the county medical examiner didn't find any obvious signs of injury.
Authorities believe Wilson was an experienced hunter, Hitchcock said.
Emergency crews used off-road vehicles to get to the scene, Hitchcock said.
Wilson's body is being sent for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, the sheriff said.