As nearly half a million hunters prepare to go afield on opening day of New York’s regular big game season Saturday, Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers have been busy rescuing hunters already in the woods.

On the evening of Nov. 5, a 77-year old hunter got turned around in a swamp in the Tug Hill lowlands outside the town of Richland. The hunter called 911 but his phone died during the call.

A search party consisting of rangers, DEC police, NY State Police, and Oswego County Sheriff deputies combed the area. A drone pilot quickly located a heat source in the swamp that turned out to be the lost hunter. Rescuers guided him out by 8 p.m.

A 53-year-old hunter from Walkill went missing on the night of Nov. 7 in the town of Bleeker. He had a headlamp, cell phone, and

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