A missing hunter, Cole Snyder, 25, was located at 9:51 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, after an overnight search.

Snyder was reported as an overdue hunter at 7:43 p.m. on Dec. 2, in the Bulger Creek area. Harney County Search and Rescue (SAR) was immediately dispatched, arriving to the area by 9:30 p.m. An Incident Command Post was set up at the Riley Store, utilizing Burns Fire Department’s support trailer.

As the hunter was unprepared for the elements, the search continued through the night. Temperatures reached the upper teens, there were about 6 inches of snow on the ground (with some areas having deep snow drifts), and searchers were fighting foggy conditions during the night and following morning.

On the morning of Dec. 3, SAR came into contact with Rick Knox on county road 4510. Knox is a local community member who had been in the area and located Snyder on county road 250. Snyder then joined SAR and was taken for medical evaluation, then returned to camp.

Thank you to Knox and the numerous agencies involved with the search including: Harney County Search and Rescue, Harney County Sheriff’s Office, Harney County Emergency Management, Burns Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Harney District Hospital Emergency Medical Services (HDH EMS), and Grant County Search and Rescue who sent aircraft to aid in the search. Search and Rescue teams from Morrow County, Deschutes County, and Lake County were on their way to assist in the search when the hunter was located. Having these responders and resources available to our county is invaluable.

Throughout the year, whether you’re traveling, hunting, or taking a drive in the forest, make sure you’re prepared with basic supplies, such as water, food, warm clothing/blankets, fire starter, and other emergency supplies. This serves as a great reminder of why even an intended short hunt can easily turn into an overnight stay in cold temperatures and exposure to the elements.