Hunter found safe in Custer County

A Caldwell hunter was found safe Thursday after spending a night in the Custer County backcountry.

Custer County Sheriff Stuart Lumpkin called out Search and Rescue volunteers after Robert Powers, 55, was reported missing from his hunting party. Diamond-D Ranch in Loon Creek reported the incident at around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Overnight temperatures dropped to 21 degrees Fahrenheit with 3 inches of snow on the ground.

Powers was located at the mouth of Rat Creek at the upper Loon Creek airstrip 3 miles north of Diamond-D Ranch at around 10:20 a.m. Thursday. Powers was working his way toward the airstrip on his own when he saw the search and rescue team.

Powers was cold, hungry and tired, but not injured. Two rescue teams and a helicopter were involved in the search.