A woodchopper has been missing in bushland for days after separating from his friend, as police increasingly fear for his welfare.

Corey Chugg, 32, from Longford had ventured into bushland at Nunamara, in Tasmania’s north, when he became separated from his friend over the weekend.

The pair had planned to do wood cutting before Chugg got lost on Sunday, Tasmania Police Inspector Aleena Crack said.

Corey Chugg has been missing in bushland near Launceston since Sunday, police say. (HANDOUT/TASMANIA POLICE)

“The gentleman (Chugg) was out there wood cutting with has lost the location of Chugg sometime over the weekend and has reported to police later on,” she told reporters on Wednesday.

The pair had a determined meet-up point, but Crack said their plans changed while they were out there.

The missing man, last seen off the Mount Barrow Discovery Trail on Sunday evening, was wearing only shorts and a top without any rescue equipment or food on him, Crack said.

She could not say whether he has outdoor experience, what shoes he was wearing or any medical conditions.

Search crews, aided by State Emergency Service personnel, police drones and helicopter have been scouring a broad area from Mount Barrow to Nunamara but have been able to narrow down the area by homing in on Chugg’s phone pings.

“The terrain is fairly unforgiving up there in some parts and in others, it’s open tracks,” Crack said.

“We’ve been very lucky with the weather lately; it has been on our side.

“We are concerned that it will get colder, and the longer someone is outside and exposed to the elements, the more risk they’re at.”

Crack said police are treating the search as a missing persons case.

“Any other inquiries may come up later, but right now, we want to find him out there in the bush,” she said.

Chugg’s friend is actively helping police with their inquiries.

Crack said the length of time it took for his friend to report him missing was not a factor of concern for authorities “right now”.

“There’s various reasons that people either report quickly or delay in reporting of somebody going missing,” she said.

“That’s part of any investigation as to why the report was made when it was made.”

Source: https://7news.com.au/news/concern-grows-as-woodchopper-corey-chugg-missing-in-nunamara-bush-for-days-in-tasmania-c-21603474