Three Yorkton moose hunters who police say became stranded in the woods last weekend northwest of Hudson Bay are home safe and sound according to a press release.
The group was out with two ATVs and an Argo, an amphibious vehicle used for traversing swamps and the like.
The RCMP said they received a call to help the group Thursday evening from family members who reported the men had unsuccessfully tried to cross a swamp, had gotten wet, could not start a fire and required assistance.
Local RCMP members and Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM) conservation officers said they found the ATVs, but had to break off the search for the men being unable to get navigate the area due to fresh snow, muskeg and ice on the swamp.
They tried to determine the location of the hunters using text messaging, but only received one text back saying, “Argo is low on power” according to the press release.
On Friday morning at approximately 5:30 a.m., RCMP Search and Rescue picked up the search and called in the Armed Forces. The Air Base in Winnipeg deployed a Hercules to search by air.
Once the aircrew was able to pinpoint the exact location of the men, Search and Rescue, with the help of local residents with specialized equipment, were able to reach the trio and bring them out by 3:30 Friday afternoon.
“Hudson Bay RCMP would like to thank the local residents who assisted and provided their equipment, SERM, the Canadian Armed Forces, and RCMP Search and Rescue,” the press release stated. “It is these types of partnerships and coordinated efforts that help save lives.”
Police said the hunters suffered only minor injuries related to exposure and hypothermia.
The scuttlebutt around Yorkton is that some of this report, including the state of the men’s health, is inaccurate, but they have yet to come forward to speak to the media.
