As nearly half a million hunters prepare to go afield on opening day of New York’s regular big game season Saturday, Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers have been busy rescuing hunters already in the woods.
On the evening of Nov. 5, a 77-year old hunter got turned around in a swamp in the Tug Hill lowlands outside the town of Richland. The hunter called 911 but his phone died during the call.
A search party consisting of rangers, DEC police, NY State Police, and Oswego County Sheriff deputies combed the area. A drone pilot quickly located a heat source in the swamp that turned out to be the lost hunter. Rescuers guided him out by 8 p.m.
A 53-year-old hunter from Walkill went missing on the night of Nov. 7 in the town of Bleeker. He had a headlamp, cell phone, and GPS, but didn’t know how to operate his electronics for navigation purposes.
Using the hunter’s last known coordinates, two rangers found the hunter approximately half a mile from a trailhead and escorted him back to the trailhead by 10:30 p.m.
A heart condition caused a 73-year-old hunter from Queensbury to call for help on Nov. 8 after he overexerted himself while dragging a deer down a trail. A ranger, along with a DEC police officer, assisted first responders already on scene to escort the ailing hunter to an awaiting ambulance at the trailhead.
A 64-year-old hunter went missing on Nov. 8 at a camp off Twitchell Lake accessible only via water. Four rangers searched overnight but found no signs of him. By morning, the search party expanded to 11 rangers who combed surrounding trails and drainages. At 9:42 a.m., they found the hunter in good health and escorted him back to his family waiting back at camp.
A forest ranger gives advice to a hiker in the Adirondack High Peaks.The following reports are excerpted from DEC:
A 57-year-old hiker from Stony Point injured their leg on Nov. 4 in Phoenicia-Mt. Tobias Wild Forest. GPS coordinates placed the hiker on a steep section of the long path just south of Warner Creek. Three rangers along with EMS personnel applied a splint, provided layers of clothing, and started a fire to warm up the shivering hiker. They then used a wheeled litter to cross Warner Creek to a waiting ambulance shortly after nightfall.
On Nov. 6 two rangers found a 71-year-old hiker who had become separated from their hiking partner on Rob’s Trail at Hemlock-Canadice State Forest.
A 20-year-old hiker from Ontario injured their leg at the intersections of Algonquin and Iroquois Mountain trails on Nov. 8, approximately six miles from the nearest trailhead. Two rangers hoisted the hiker into a state police helicopter, which flew to lake Placid Airport.
A group of hikers got lost on Indian Pass Trail on the night of Nov. 8 and texted their coordinates to 911. Rangers located the hikers in good health at Indian Pass Brook, but they were cold and wet. During this time of year, rangers encourage hikers to prepare for the weather not only at the trailhead, but also at the peak. There is already snow on some of the Adirondack High Peaks.
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