Carpenter's snowmobile broke down about 80 kilometres from where he said he would be hunting.

Residents of the community are glad he was found, but they are also frustrated.

"We are frustrated people have not learned to carry extra gear.

"We are frustrated they have not learned their lesson," said Kugluktuk's Wildlife officer, Allen Niptanatiak.

The lesson he is referring to is one that occurred last Dec. 5. Respected hunter Charlie Hokanak, 58, was found dead after a 13-day search-and-rescue mission.

Despite this, Carpenter still went out on the land without food, or a means of melting water.

He had a tent with him but no poles.

Police said Carpenter had enough to survive the 24 hours he was stranded, but not much more.

"If we were still looking for him this morning, we would have been looking for a corpse," said Cpl. Grant St. Germaine of the RCMP.

When Carpenter was found, he was cold and dehydrated.

After being warmed, members of the SAR brought Carpenter back to the community.

He was medevaced to Yellowknife for observation.

Carpenter told the police he had seen the SAR crew pass by him the night before he was found, but that he had nothing to signal them with.

During a debriefing between the SAR members and the RCMP, educating the residents was the biggest concern.

"We're going to put together an information handout and we're going to call a community meeting to stress the things people need to take with them," said St. Germaine.

The handouts will be distributed to every post office box in Kugluktuk.