Missing CO Hunters
- Thread starter rjthehunter
- Start date
Yes, as the current spreads along the ground the potential difference between your 2 feet can be huge, and kill you. I believe I've read to keep your feet together and don't touch anything else; limb, tree, etc.
And don't stand next to your buddy, as Buzz mentioned.
Having said all that I guess hypothermia is still a possibility, I guess we'll know next week.
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WapitiBob
Well-known member
No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say
Autopsies are set for Monday for two elk hunters found dead a week after they went missing in the Rio Grande National Forest.
coloradosun.com
utwesternhunter
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A cold mtn rainstorm can be bone chilling. Just working with your hands and getting them wet when it's like that has my hands numb. Now imagine no rain gear, and your whole body drenched and it's dark. Doesn't take long for hypothermia to take its toll.
Chama Grande
Well-known member
I read one in this thread that I had to just pump the brakes and move on. Best not to give it air
rjthehunter
Well-known member
That's what I told my fiancé & my dad. They died doing what they love. I hope it was instant and completely painless.
I have seen worst but not here. I seen people saying the elk won and this is what they get for hunting and killing animals. They live among us....
glass eye
Well-known member
If they saw a big bull and hurried after it I can see this happening.
Hunting javelina in Arizona in February many years ago. The mornings were in the 20s but would quickly soar into the 60s and 70s.
So I set out in just a T-shirt shrugging off the freezing cold knowing that soon it was going to be very warm.
Going light I only had a qt canteen of water and a fanny pack with knives and not much else.
After harvesting a javelina in the evening I started back with the javelina slung over my shoulder and bow in hand.
Along the way a rock rolled under my foot and my sloppy knee hyperextended.
Now I can barely put weight on my leg. No flashlight, no matches or any type of firestarter.
It was a moonless night and so dark I literally could not see my hand in front of my face. I shuffled my feet along and finally sat down not able to continue.
I mumbled God help me and leaned back and my hand landed on a branch. It was thick as my wrist and was the perfect length and with a Y at the top.
If I had searched in the daylight to find a crutch I couldn’t have found a better one.
NOW, because of that incident I always go prepared and always have a PLB on me.
If those guys got wet and turned around, hypothermia can happen fast and now you can’t think straight.
Hunting javelina in Arizona in February many years ago. The mornings were in the 20s but would quickly soar into the 60s and 70s.
So I set out in just a T-shirt shrugging off the freezing cold knowing that soon it was going to be very warm.
Going light I only had a qt canteen of water and a fanny pack with knives and not much else.
After harvesting a javelina in the evening I started back with the javelina slung over my shoulder and bow in hand.
Along the way a rock rolled under my foot and my sloppy knee hyperextended.
Now I can barely put weight on my leg. No flashlight, no matches or any type of firestarter.
It was a moonless night and so dark I literally could not see my hand in front of my face. I shuffled my feet along and finally sat down not able to continue.
I mumbled God help me and leaned back and my hand landed on a branch. It was thick as my wrist and was the perfect length and with a Y at the top.
If I had searched in the daylight to find a crutch I couldn’t have found a better one.
NOW, because of that incident I always go prepared and always have a PLB on me.
If those guys got wet and turned around, hypothermia can happen fast and now you can’t think straight.
BuzzH
Well-known member
I t think its good that many are sharing experiences where "quick" and "easy" hunts can turn into more than one expects.
The most turned around and dangerous situations I experienced was hunting pronghorn in Blaine County Montana. Similar deal saw a good buck, walked 1-1.5 miles and my wife shot it.
Fluke storm blew in at dark, dumped 5 inches of wet snow, couldn't see shit. That country has draws that lead nowhere and I got thoroughly mixed up. Thankfully took enough extra stuff, but we still froze our asses off. Finally walked to a farmhouse and got a lift back to the truck.
That hunt got my attention, and fast...I dont leave the truck without taking the usual stuff anymore. I usually mark the truck with a GPS too. Can't be too safe.
I guess if there's a positive from this, its made a lot of hunters give things some thought, be prepared, etc.
Really shitty situation, I hate these stories.
The most turned around and dangerous situations I experienced was hunting pronghorn in Blaine County Montana. Similar deal saw a good buck, walked 1-1.5 miles and my wife shot it.
Fluke storm blew in at dark, dumped 5 inches of wet snow, couldn't see shit. That country has draws that lead nowhere and I got thoroughly mixed up. Thankfully took enough extra stuff, but we still froze our asses off. Finally walked to a farmhouse and got a lift back to the truck.
That hunt got my attention, and fast...I dont leave the truck without taking the usual stuff anymore. I usually mark the truck with a GPS too. Can't be too safe.
I guess if there's a positive from this, its made a lot of hunters give things some thought, be prepared, etc.
Really shitty situation, I hate these stories.
Same here. And always a compass in my right pocket, religiously, with a quick bearing read before leaving the truck. Even here in WI.
More than once when moving around a lot I have forgot to mark the truck or quad at the new spot. That is always a little oh shit moment when you realize it. not a problem as long as it is daytime and clear. We all know the great feeling even when not lost when you are coming out in the dark and see the reflection of your truck side markers in your headlight beam..... Warm truck and cold beer awaits
utwesternhunter
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the truck firing up is the other "best" feeling.
wihunter12
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Sad news, prayers for these families!
Was thinking of this story this morning sitting in my truck before heading into my treestand waiting for rain to pass. Started to see a fair amount of lightning, turned the truck on and headed home.
Was thinking of this story this morning sitting in my truck before heading into my treestand waiting for rain to pass. Started to see a fair amount of lightning, turned the truck on and headed home.
utwesternhunter
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I know all of the speculating in this thread might not have been the best but it's been a good reminder with safety gear items and I've added a couple items because of it.
I was going to sell my InReach and upgrade phones to get satellite texting. This incident changed my mind.
Bullshot
Well-known member
hell no. have both
Big Sky Guy
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Things I have learned reading this thread and the other one about close calls and a couple clarifying questions for those with more experience:
1.). Lightning can kill more than just the person/animal it strikes. I’ve been high up and had my hair start standing along with the person I was with when storms roll in. That experience alone taught me to always go down when storms on horizon. However that instance and just this past weekend when going down I was never more than 20 yards from the person I was with.
How close/far should I aim to space, I’ve read 100 yards but thinking more like 200 would be better?
2.). I’ve mostly disregarded hypothermia as a threat because in my mind I can “just hike out.” I wear mostly merino wool, which supposedly will keep me warm when wet and as long as I am hiking I rarely get cold, but honestly can’t think of a time I’ve been soaked and hiking so may be a bit near-sighted.
Can hypothermia still set in when being active/moving?
Reading this makes me realize there could be instances with visibility or injury where that wouldn’t be possible. I always have a tarp and rain jacket when hunting so feel pretty covered there. I also generally don’t hunt or do much in heavy rain so am either in the tent, under a tarp or back at home.
3.) As a rule I don’t generally drop my pack, if I’m setting up for a shot, taking a break or calling etc. I will but if I move more than 10 yards I always grab it. Sometimes I feel like it’s an anchor but reading these emboldens me to continue this practice.
4.) I am pretty reliant on my phone for navigation. I used to carry a compass but never used it and seemed silly so took it out a few years back, if it’s daylight and I have visibility I can always find my way back but will throw it back in my pack as a backup. My phone compass used to be off 180 degrees sometimes as a glitch or something but was always obvious to me and I just corrected for it but I’ve been out with folks that have this happen and I have to get in a near argument and explain the topo features and how the phone compass is sometimes wrong (idk why). If a phone was off 60-90 degrees that would be harder to detect but I usually am looking at topo features more when navigating (get to this ridge to glass, that meadow to calll, that stream to get water etc.).
1.). Lightning can kill more than just the person/animal it strikes. I’ve been high up and had my hair start standing along with the person I was with when storms roll in. That experience alone taught me to always go down when storms on horizon. However that instance and just this past weekend when going down I was never more than 20 yards from the person I was with.
How close/far should I aim to space, I’ve read 100 yards but thinking more like 200 would be better?
2.). I’ve mostly disregarded hypothermia as a threat because in my mind I can “just hike out.” I wear mostly merino wool, which supposedly will keep me warm when wet and as long as I am hiking I rarely get cold, but honestly can’t think of a time I’ve been soaked and hiking so may be a bit near-sighted.
Can hypothermia still set in when being active/moving?
Reading this makes me realize there could be instances with visibility or injury where that wouldn’t be possible. I always have a tarp and rain jacket when hunting so feel pretty covered there. I also generally don’t hunt or do much in heavy rain so am either in the tent, under a tarp or back at home.
3.) As a rule I don’t generally drop my pack, if I’m setting up for a shot, taking a break or calling etc. I will but if I move more than 10 yards I always grab it. Sometimes I feel like it’s an anchor but reading these emboldens me to continue this practice.
4.) I am pretty reliant on my phone for navigation. I used to carry a compass but never used it and seemed silly so took it out a few years back, if it’s daylight and I have visibility I can always find my way back but will throw it back in my pack as a backup. My phone compass used to be off 180 degrees sometimes as a glitch or something but was always obvious to me and I just corrected for it but I’ve been out with folks that have this happen and I have to get in a near argument and explain the topo features and how the phone compass is sometimes wrong (idk why). If a phone was off 60-90 degrees that would be harder to detect but I usually am looking at topo features more when navigating (get to this ridge to glass, that meadow to calll, that stream to get water etc.).
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