On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Search and Rescue, and nearly 20 other agencies headed to the Rawah Wildnerness area, on a mission to find a lost hunter.

First responders faced snow and winter-like storm conditions during the mission before successfully finding the hunter on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Grand County Search and Rescue and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office assisted during this multiagency mission.

Mission to Rawah Wildnerness

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office stated that on evening of Monday, Sept. 22, deputies were notified a hunter had gone missing near the Jack Dickens Trail off Jackson County Road 12E, close to the Three Sisters Trailhead.

According to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office, the hunter had become separated from his group earlier that afternoon.

The missing hunter, a 57-year-old man from Illinois, had previous military experience, the reporting party told the sheriff’s office.

The last communication the reporting party had received from the man was a text message at 3:21 p.m., indicating he was lost, the sheriff’s office stated. However, he was well-prepared with warm clothes, water and a sleeping bag.

The sheriff’s office attempted to use a cellphone ping to determine a location, but were unable to due to either to his phone being out of service or off.

“With deteriorating weather conditions and darkness approaching, it was unsafe for rescuers to deploy that evening,” the sheriff’s office stated.

Missing hunter is rescued

On Sept. 23, Jackson County Search and Rescue and Colorado Parks and Wildlife began a full search effort.

“Searchers faced snowy, cold, and windy conditions, and air support was unavailable due to the weather,” the sheriff’s office stated.

After 10 hours, the search was suspended at nighttime. The following morning on Sept. 24, multiple agencies stepped up to assist the search effort, including those in Grand County. Members on the ground were assisted by search dogs. Air support was also used to bring members into and out of the backcountry.

The harsh, snowy weather and rugged terrain made operations difficult, but members persevered.

Earlier that afternoon, the missing hunter had been to able to place several 911 calls, which were routed to surrounding agencies. This helped narrow down his location. At 1 p.m., the hunter was finally found by air support.

“He was found to be in good health and credited his survival to staying calm, starting a fire, and using his sleeping bag and clothing to stay warm. The hunter ultimately survived two nights in the Rawah Wilderness during winter storm conditions,” the sheriff’s office stated.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office stated it is grateful to all the agencies who assisted in this successful search and rescue effort, including Routt County Search and Rescue, Grand County agencies, Front Range Rescue Dogs and many others.