Shawn Gilliland has been bear hunting many times before.

The 31-year-old Connoquenessing Township resident failed to bag a bear during his hunting trip at Allegheny Mountain Forest in Forest County last month.

He did bag something that's been missing for more than a year, however - a power parachute.

The parachute got away from its owner, Allison Bell of Spartansburg, near Erie, Nov. 9, 2003. Gilliland spotted it more than a year later, on Nov. 22.

"I was getting ready to fly it and it got away from me before I could strap in," Bell said. "It took off flying on its own.

"I reported it to police and various authorities right away. I knew it would be found."

He just didn't know it would take so long.

The craft, a Buckeye power parachute, is a motorized, three-wheeled vehicle with a winged parachute designed for recreational aviation. It weighs about 250 pounds and costs $12,800 new.

Bell bought this one used in Virginia.

"It wasn't going to damage anything," he said. "Eventually, it would just float to the ground - somewhere."

That somewhere turned out to be in the middle of the woods where Gilliland was hunting as the aircraft sailed 37 miles before landing.

"We had hunted in that area before," Gilliland said. "It was at the bottom of a deep ridge. We referred to it as Death Valley, and after going down there once, I swore I wouldn't do it again.

"When I was standing on top of that ridge, I noticed something yellow and purple down at the bottom. I figured it was a tent at first, then wondered why anybody would be camping down there at this time of year."

He got a closer look through the scope of his gun and discovered the glider-like vehicle.

"My Dad was hunting with me and I told him what I found," Gilliland said. "I headed down the ridge not sure what I was going to come across.

"I mean - somebody had to be flying it. Was he hurt? Was he dead? I looked for blood, any sign of anybody and found nothing. The machine was hardly even damaged.

"It made a soft, smooth landing. I didn't even see any branches broken off any trees," Gilliland added. "It was as if someone had just left it there."

He notified the U.S. Forest Service, which knew nothing of the fallen machinery. He called the state police in Tionesta, who also drew a blank at first.

After some checking, the police called Gilliland the next day and told him the description of the aircraft matched that reported by Bell more than a year ago.

"I was trying to find out if I could salvage it, then maybe sell it, if no one had reported it missing," Gilliland said.

"Everything was intact on it. Two motor bolts had broken off and part of the harness strap had melted, probably as the engine ground to a halt. Considering the thing was sitting there for more than a year, it was in great shape," he added.

A dirt road at the bottom of the ridge hits a dead end less than 200 yards from where the craft landed.

"It amazes me that no one spotted it before now," Gilliland said.

Bell was just happy somebody did. He was notified and drove to the scene. Bell and Gilliland were among six men who pushed the craft out of the woods.

"I had no idea how far it went," Bell said. "I'm just happy to have it back."

Gilliland successfully bagged bear at Allegheny National Forest in 1998 and 1999.

"I never got an ultra-light before," he said with a chuckle. "And I doubt I ever will again."