Missing hunters in Colorado

[fngTony]

See link for details. https://www.reddit.com/r/Hunting/s/uiUaYVy9Im

 

[sierracharlie338]

Hope they find them safe.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Damn. It was cold, wet and snowing this weekend where my wife and I were hunting.

 

[TaperPin]

Of course everyone hopes it has a good outcome. I’ll bet they’re fine and their batteries crapped out or something simple. From the description whoever was checking their truck has no idea what these guys normally carry or keep in the truck for backup. Odds of two guys being incapacitated are low. If lost or injured all one of them has to do is light a tree or two on fire to get all the attention they need.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Sure hope it all works out. Maybe they got a bull down and will get a lot of help packing it out.

 

[T3clay]

Sure hope it all works out. Maybe they got a bull down and will get a lot of help packing it out.

my thoughts exactly!

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Seems so impossible for people to get lost and/or hurt these days without someone knowing immediately, especially two guys together in Colorado. Good reality check and I hope they’re found asap.

 

[Beendare]

25 yr old bowhunters in good shape and hunting together....they should be able to handle a night or two in the woods even with snow. My bet is they are hunkered down and will come strolling out a little wet and hungry is all.

 

[MallardSX2]

My gut instinct is that they are hunting and don't really care if they talk to their girlfriends or anyone else for that matter. That's where my head was at when I was 25. I foresee the wedding being called off....just saying.

 

[Poser]

81 is pretty carved up with roads and trail access, not to mention, full of hunters. I'm surprised 5 days can pass without anyone encountering them. Apparently, someone brought in some dogs on Monday.

 

[huntingdad]

I’ve been turned around more times than I can count. Happens. Did it once with my wife. We crested a finger ridge headed back to camp after bow hunting and I was certain we were headed the right direction to the north west bc I’ve hunted here multiple times. Just happened to glance up on top of the little ridge to look at the moon and within 5 seconds stopped. The moon was on my left. I was headed the complete opposite direction. Pulled out my onX on my phone and sure enough.

Like someone else said, let’s hope they are loaded down with heavy packs!

 

[Chris in TN]

I genuinely hope this is just a case of an overly concerned gf/wife worrying too soon.

A buddy and I went on an adventurous day trip kayaking a really difficult stretch of water once, fishing. I told the wife we'd be back by 6 or so. No cell service. About 830 that night we made it to the takeout and I trotted uphill several hundred feet of elevation to where I could get a signal and check in with her. She'd already called authorities and they were organizing a search party. lol.

In fairness, she was pregnant with our third child and I could understand her concern. But, yeah, I'm hoping it's just that sort of thing and they're out there surprised at how quickly their emergency comms died but having a blast chasing elk.

 

[intunegp]

My gut instinct is that they are hunting and don't really care if they talk to their girlfriends or anyone else for that matter. That's where my head was at when I was 25. I foresee the wedding being called off....just saying.

It's crazy how much technology has changed expectations about check-ins and stuff. It feels like we should be more capable than ever of surviving and thriving in the mountains, but everyone back at home is more worried than ever.

When I first started elk hunting in Colorado I lived in Georgia. Me and my 80+ year old grandfather would leave in his truck on the ~24 hour drive, let everyone know we made it to Colorado safe when we made it to the front range, MAYBE touch base once or twice from camp if we stood in the truck bed and did the signal pose just right, and eventually show up back at home over two weeks later. Everyone worried more about the long drive than anything else.

A couple years ago, Verizon went down without warning for about 18 hours while my dad and I were out hunting, I think we had been at camp 2 or 3 days at that point. We had to go to town that night anyway and nobody's phone worked there either. When we got service back the next morning my mom had contacted state patrol who told her they would send a game warden out looking for us, and my fiance was threatening to drive (6+ hours) to our last known location.

 

[AZ8]

Looks like they have some waypoints to work from.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Well if they end up not being in a bind. Might be an interesting conversation, when he learns she posted up all his waypoints

 

[AZ8]

Well if they end up not being in a bind. Might be an interesting conversation, when he learns she posted up all his waypoints

Yup. It’s why I edited my post. But they’re all over FB and Reddit anyways.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I genuinely hope this is just a case of an overly concerned gf/wife worrying too soon.

A buddy and I went on an adventurous day trip kayaking a really difficult stretch of water once, fishing. I told the wife we'd be back by 6 or so. No cell service. About 830 that night we made it to the takeout and I trotted uphill several hundred feet of elevation to where I could get a signal and check in with her. She'd already called authorities and they were organizing a search party. lol.

In fairness, she was pregnant with our third child and I could understand her concern. But, yeah, I'm hoping it's just that sort of thing and they're out there surprised at how quickly their emergency comms died but having a blast chasing elk.

Had something similar when my 3rd was 6mo old. Had just moved to CO so first time killing an elk and it was 4th season (short days), wife knew we headed in predawn and it got dark ~5pm, didn't know the magnitude of packing out an elk yet. We didn't get out till 9-10pm and she was talking with the Sheriff. Had another hiccup of a delayed return with no calls made but was met with anger, an inreach was procured soon after. An quick update can smooth over a lot.

 

[OKHunter84]

Yeah I usually let my wife and Dad know where I'm headed in and what day to start worrying. It's really not as big a deal with an InReach but I still do it. You have to make sure they know you might not be able to check in and that this is the day that's your hard out.

Hopefully it's just a worried wife or girlfriend blowing it out of proportion.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Yeah hope they are good, buddy of mine ran into some sorry souls who got their ass kicked by the mountain and called it after of 3 days of getting snowed and iced on… hope they are okay.

 

[TaperPin]

Looking at the last ping lat/long given it seems obvious where they are hunting has plenty of water, they are trying to get to a spot hunters coming in from the larger road and trailheads nearby are less likely to reach. The whole place is within reach of one of the trailheads. Looks like a nice spot. If they come out with an average little 6x6 bull human nature will have multiple additional trucks at every trailhead. A monster bull will pack the trailheads.