RAPID CITY, S.D. – Two lost hunters were safely found in the Black Hills, thanks to good preparedness, smart thinking and safety measures on their part.
On Monday, November 25, 2019 at about 4:30 pm, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office received a call from two deer hunters along Pole Creek Road not far from the South Dakota-Wyoming border. They had turned onto an ATV trail with sharp curves and could not get their truck turned around.
The hunters told dispatchers they were walking somewhere along South Castle Creek Road headed north. They reported the weather was cold but that they were dressed properly. Both had water, food and flashlights.
One of the hunters had global positioning system (GPS) navigation. They were advised to stay on the road until the deputy could make contact with them. They called 911 every 15 minutes so law enforcement could log their new coordinates and be advised of their condition.
A Pennington County Sheriff’s Deputy was able to find the hunters walking on the roadway about an hour later and gave them a ride into Hill City where they were met by family.
“These hunters had several things working in their favor to include a GPS unit, food, water and fully charged cell phone batteries,” says Patrol Captain Tony Harrison. “That greatly assisted us in bringing this to a quick and safe resolution.”
