Hope was fading on Wednesday, Dec. 5, for a Hooksett man who got lost in Bear Brook State Park on Sunday, Dec. 2. After three nights of snow and frigid temperatures, New Hampshire Fish and Game said it is unlikely Russell Bussiere, 70, is alive.

“Our search commanders and all of the participants in this incident are frustrated and extremely disappointed that we have been unable to locate Mr. Bussiere or find clues as to his whereabouts,” said Col. Jeffrey Gray of Fish and Game in a press release on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 12:09 p.m. “At this point, we are approaching the limitations of our search and rescue resources.”

As of Dec. 5, the search expanded for a third time to locations adjacent to the state park. A decision on whether to call off the search was to be made late that afternoon. By press time, 15 teams continued searching through the 7 inches of snow, thick trees and rough terrain.

Allenstown police and fire departments, New Hampshire Fish and Game, Hooksett firefighters, state police and about 200 community volunteers have been searching for Bussiere, of 221 West River Road in Hooksett, since he failed to return to a meeting spot while hunting at the 15-square-mile state park with his son, Michael Bussiere, on Sunday, Dec. 2.

Major Timothy Acerno of Fish and Game said authorities were using a GPS mapping system, K-9 units and line searches in their attempts to locate the missing man.

At a press briefing on Monday, Dec. 3, Lt. Kevin Jordan of New Hampshire Fish and Game said Michael and Russell Bussiere parked at a location on Dodge Road and entered the state park’s south end. Equipped with Garmin Rhino GPS navigators and cell phones, they planned on hunting in the area for deer, each making a large circle before meeting back at the car.

The last vocal transmission between the two men was at 10:30 a.m. Russell Bussiere never made it back to the car, prompting his family members to call authorities at 2 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m., a transmission came through the GPS that located the elder Bussiere’s device just a mile from where the parked vehicle, Jordan said.

That location was searched to no avail, as well as areas surrounding it. An attempt to track Bussiere’s cell phone from the closest cell tower could not reveal a specific location.

Authorities fear the batteries on Bussiere’s phone and GPS device have run out, he said, after repeated attempts to locate the GPS and calling Bussiere’s cell phone.

Search teams scoured the area from about 2 p.m. on Sunday until 3 a.m. Monday morning, using the last GPS location as a starting point, but came up with no clues to the elderly man’s whereabouts.

Searchers focused on what Acerno called “high probability areas,” such as trails and streams, or areas that offer resources where Bussiere may likely be found.

By about 4 p.m. on Monday, Jordan said, search teams had covered about half of a 7-square-mile grid search area.

The search resumed at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, with added volunteers and mutual assistance to cover an expanded 10-square-mile area. Using a Map Source, a GPS mapping system, searchers’ progress was plotted to ensure all grids in the area would be covered.

Bussiere’s nephew, Richard Emond of Hooksett, brought his son Matt Emond, 18, to participate in the search on Tuesday. “We’re being optimistic and hoping we have a good result,” said Richard Emond, who is also a hunter.

The inclement weather was a concern for authorities, but Jordan said the snow may have actually worked in Bussiere’s favor on Sunday into Monday because it raised the temperature.

Due to weather conditions, the Army National Guard was not able to get its Black Hawk helicopter off the ground to search the state park until Tuesday.

Repeated flyovers revealed nothing about Bussiere’s dissappearance.

Acerno said Bussiere, who is a retired military veteran, a seasoned hunter and frequently works out, is physically capable and resourceful enough to survive the cold and snow overnight.

Bussiere also had some snack foods with him that may have sustained him through the night and possibly matches, Jordan said.

At Monday’s briefing, Jordan said Bussiere’s family members were actively participating in the search. “This man was dearly loved and they’re very concerned and worried,” he said.

When volunteers had to be removed from the search party due to being cold, wet, or otherwise unfit to continue, Jordan announced at a press conference on Dec. 4 that they would not use civilian volunteers to continue on Dec. 5.

“The odds aren’t with him,” said Mike Roberge, a hunter from Goffstown who joined the search party with his black lab, Mandy.

Roberge volunteered because of his kinship with hunters. “Hopefully, someone would do the same for me,” he said.