Two hunters from Albany were found Saturday after spending an unplanned night in the woods near Sweet Home, Linn County Undersheriff Bruce Riley said.
Riley said deputies and members of their search and rescue team were called early Saturday to help locate the two missing hunters after the Sheriff’s Office received a call at approximately 3 a.m. reporting that David Ulrich, 28, and Robert Paige, 25, both from Albany, were missing after a planned day hunt in the Sweet Home area. The two had left their home early Friday morning, Nov. 2, planning to return home that evening, he said.
Friends found their vehicle late Friday night on a forest service road near House Rock Campground in eastern Linn County. Upon being notified, Members of the Linn County Mounted Posse, Linn County Search and Rescue, United States Forest Service and members of the Marion County 4-Wheel Drive Club immediately responded to the area to assist in the search.
At approximately 11 a.m. Saturday, deputies reported that both Ulrich and Paige had walked out to a road and were found to be uninjured and in good condition. Deputies learned that Ulrich and Paige became lost last night and were unable to get a signal from their GPS. They decided to spend the night, planning to hike out in the morning. Both hunters are experienced in the woods and were prepared to spend the night.