BRASHER -- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers responded to a search and rescue incident in Brasher recently. 

On October 24 at 9 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from St. Lawrence County 911 requesting Forest Ranger assistance with the search for an overdue hunter on Brasher State Forest. 

The 38-year-old hunter from Potsdam was expected home by 6:30 p.m. and the family called 911. 

Rangers Ellis and Hanno joined New York State Police, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Helena Fire Department in the search. 

Fire Department UTVs and a drone operator conducted linear searches. 

At 11:10 p.m., the hunter called 911. 

Rescuers used the coordinates from the 911 call and located the hunter at 11:30 p.m. 

The incident was clear at 12:26 a.m. 

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s “Hike Smart NY,” “Adirondack Backcountry,” and “Catskill Backcountry Information” webpages for more information.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on State lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. 

If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region: http://on.ny.gov/NYSForestRangerRoster .