Missing hunters found in 'amazing condition'

Three hunters missing in the snowy and rugged environs of Flat Tops Wilderness have been rescued.

A National Guard helicopter located the Denver area men this morning and flew them to safety.

“They have been airlifted off the mountain. They had a little hypothermia, no frostbite, no injuries and they are in amazing condition,” Garfield County Sheriff Spokeswoman Tanny McGinnis said.

The three men went missing Saturday when two of the men in their hunting party returned to their camp and could not find them. They searched for them Sunday before alerting authorities that night.

A large team of rescuers scoured the Flat Tops on snowmobiles looking for the lost men. Heavy snow and high winds that moved into the area complicated the search and intensified fears for the worst.

The hunters spent four nights missing in the woods, braving temperatures that dipped into the teens. When heavy snow began falling, the hunters found a natural windbreak in the trees where they built a fire to keep warm and stay drive until rescuers eventually found them, according to McGinnis.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is reminding hunters to be prepared for rapidly changing weather.

"While hunter success increases with snowfall, folks need to have the proper winter gear before heading out to hunt at this time of year," said Perry Will, area wildlife manager for the Division of Wildlife in Glenwood Springs.

Heavy snow tends to concentrate elk into larger herds that can make hunting easier.
 
"Some of the hunters we are contacting are glad to see the snow because it makes the hunting better," Will added. "Those are the hunters who are prepared."

The Division of Wildlife recommends that hunters always tells others where they are going, never go into the woods alone, bring proper clothing and equipment like a compass, survival kit and map of where they are going. They also advise staying put if you get lost.

"Hunters should always carry a personal survival kit that includes signaling devices, shelter and fire starter," Division of Wildlife education coordinator Mark Cousins said. "A larger vehicle survival kit with sleeping bag, food, water, shovel, sand and tire chains is also a good idea."
 
Hunters are currently taking part in the second rifle season, which runs until 30 minutes past sunset on Oct 31. The third rifle season begins Saturday, Nov. 6, at sunrise and runs through Sunday, Nov. 14. A fourth season is scheduled from Nov. 17 through Nov. 21.

River Name / Location	Stream flow, ft3/s	Gage height ft
Gore Creek
At Upper Station, Near I-70 Twin Bridges	n/a	4 ft
Booth Creek	n/a	4 ft
Abv Red Sandstone Creek At Vail	182	6 ft
At Mouth Near Minturn	223	7 ft
Beaver Creek
At Avon	21	2 ft
Lake Creek
Near Edwards	80	1 ft
Cross Creek
Near Minturn	100	4 ft
Homestake Creek
At Gold Park	127	5 ft
Eagle River
East Fork Eagle River Near Climax	n/a	2 ft
At Red Cliff	30	3 ft
Near Minturn	234	4 ft
Wastewater Treatment Plant At Avon	675	5 ft
Below Gypsum	826	5 ft
Colorado River
Near Kremmling	404	4 ft
Near Dotsero	1,630	3 ft
Below Glenwood Springs	3,140	5 ft
Near Cameo	3,740	6 ft
Below Grand Valley Div Nr Palisade	2,080	5 ft
Near Colorado-utah State Line	4,120	4 ft
Near Cisco, Ut	4,060	3 ft
At Lees Ferry, Az	12,100	9 ft
Near Grand Canyon, Az	12,200	9 ft
Yuma Main Canal Ww At Yuma, Az	1,010	10 ft
Roaring Fork River
Abv Lost Man Cr Near Aspen	n/a	n/a ft
Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen	52	1 ft
Near Aspen	78	1 ft
Near Emma	480	6 ft
At Glenwood Springs	1,180	3 ft
Hunter Creek
Near Aspen	56	2 ft
At Aspen	48	4 ft
Frying Pan River
Near Ruedi	113	2 ft
Crystal River
Abv Avalanche Crk, Near Redstone	540	2 ft
Arkansas River
Ef Arkansas R At Us Highway 24, Nr Leadville	47	3 ft
Near Leadville	86	5 ft
Below Empire Gulch Near Malta	156	3 ft
Below Granite	429	4 ft
Near Nathrop	451	4 ft
At Parkdale	464	3 ft