A 69-year-old Wisconsin man bypassed a nearly hour-long drive by flying his helicopter to a Cabela's store on Saturday evening, according to authorities.
The pilot took off from the village of Rosendale and landed in an empty parking lot at the Cabela's in Richfield around 6 p.m. The Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene. When questioned by officers about his unconventional travel method, the man stated, "the drive was too long."
Authorities confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and compliant with federal regulations. He was reportedly cooperative with law enforcement. The Washington County Sheriff's Office noted the incident as a "unique way to make a shopping trip" on their Facebook page, which featured video footage of the landing and the subsequent police response.
The pilot did not receive any citations or violations for the flight, officials said.