TOWN OF SCIPIO, N.Y. — A Cayuga County deer hunter died over the weekend after he fell 18 feet from a tree stand, according to the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office.

Gale Lytle, 54, of Port Byron, fell from the stand while he was in a wooded area off Center Road in the Town of Scipio.

He fell before he reached the top of the stand, which malfunctioned, causing him to fall to the ground.

Lytle was by myself in the immediate location but two others were hunting with nearby, authorities said. At the time, they weren’t within eye-shot or earshot, however.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, authorities are awaiting results of an autopsy by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office.