Missing MN hunter located after spending four days in swampy conditions
Courtesy of Flikr user "Nova"
CASS COUNTY, Minn. (KMSP) - A hunter who had been missing for four days in Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest was located Tuesday by Cass County sheriff's deputies, according to a release from the department.
The man was last seen by his family members on the morning of Sept. 21 near their cabin in Boy Lake, Minn., and was found in a swampy area Tuesday morning after several unsuccessful search parties.
Enduring severe swings in temperature--from well over 80 degrees during the day to 37 degrees at night--he was treated on the scene and subsequently transported to a nearby hospital.
The Sheriff's Office also laid out a number of guidelines for hunters and people traveling outdoors, restating the importance of carrying a map and survival kit in case you get lost:
- Get a detailed map of the area you are hunting, review it before you leave and carry it with you in the field.
- Carry a compass and know how to use it. Decide ahead of time the direction to head for if you get lost or disoriented.
- Weather can change quickly in Minnesota, so hunters should carry a simple survival kit and be prepared for an unexpected overnight stay in the field. The survival kit should contain a rope, knife, water, waterproof matches, an emergency shelter and first aid supplies.
- If you are on the water, make sure to wear a life vest.
- Know your hunting partners' physical and emotional limitations, as well as your own, and don’t push your partners or yourself beyond those limits.
- If hunting from an elevated stand use a Fall Restraint Device.
- Always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.