A lost hunter was reported to Grand County Search and Rescue on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 21, and was found alive on Friday, Nov. 22, after spending a night in the wilderness.

At 7:40 p.m. on Thursday, Grand County Search and Rescue’s incident command team received a request to help locate a missing hunter between Sheep Mountain and South Corral Peak. Soon after, a team responded to the area to begin searching for the missing person.

The hunter had not been seen since about midday by his hunting party, and was not equipped to stay out overnight, according to the press release.

Initial search operations lasted throughout the night, with 17 responders searching and helping coordinate with search and rescue. After the initial search was unsuccessful, the team called in additional resources through the Colorado Search and Rescue Association for another operation.

Then, on Friday, Nov. 22, at 12:20 p.m., the incident command team was notified that the subject had been found by another hunter and was cold and hungry, but otherwise fine. The lost hunter warmed up by a fire and was escorted to the trailhead, where he was evaluated by Grand County EMS.

The individual credited his military background for surviving the night, according to search and rescue. He built a place to sleep during the night and was in the process of attempting to start a fire with his binoculars.

Grand County Search and Rescue reminds all backcountry users to carry the 10 essentials, a collection of first-aid and emergency items that help individuals in the event of an injury, sudden weather changes or unexpected delays while out in the wilderness.