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Deer Hunter Survives 20 Days Lost in the Sierra National Forest
A California hunter who vanished in mid-October while deer hunting in the Sierra National Forest has been found alive after surviving nearly three weeks alone in the wilderness. Fifty-five-year-old Ron Dailey of Selma, California, was rescued by another group of hunters on Nov. 1 near the Swamp Lake Trail, ending an extensive 20-day search that local officials called “nothing short of a miracle.”
Dailey disappeared on Oct. 13 after heading into the mountains near Shaver Lake for what was supposed to be a one-day hunting trip. When he didn’t return home, his family contacted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, sparking a massive search effort involving ground teams, horseback patrols, and aerial surveillance through some of the toughest country in the Sierra.
According to Dailey’s account, he had driven his truck to the top of the Swamp Lake Trail and stopped for a quick meal of jerky and nuts before descending a rough jeep road. When he tried to turn around, he realized he couldn’t get back out. His truck eventually broke down, leaving him stranded at over 10,000 feet of elevation.
“I backed up there and jacked my truck up and made it level,” Dailey said in a recording shared by his family. “Then I took the passenger seat out to have a place to rest. It was very uncomfortable.”
Dailey stayed with his vehicle for several days, rationing food and using the truck for shelter. When his supplies began to run out, he decided to try to walk out of the mountains. “This is it, Ron,” he told himself. “You either try to get out or you sit here and die.”
The decision led to an exhausting trek through rocky, high-elevation terrain. Dailey said he could only walk about 100 yards at a time before stopping to catch his breath. Along the way, he fell several times and lost his cellphone, leaving him without a way to call for help.
After nearly a week without food, Dailey said he was weak and praying for rescue when he spotted headlights on the trail. “You gotta send somebody up here to me,” he remembered praying. Moments later, he saw a vehicle approaching. The hunters inside stopped, recognized him, and quickly provided food and water.
“They saved my life,” Dailey said. “I started hugging them and praying.”
He was taken to Clovis Community Medical Center for treatment and was expected to make a full recovery. His wife, Glenda, thanked the community and rescuers for their efforts. “God still does miracles, and we have just been shown one,” she said.
For hunters who spend time deep in the backcountry, Dailey’s story is a reminder of how quickly a routine trip can turn dangerous. Experts recommend carrying a satellite communicator, marking vehicle locations, and packing extra food, water, and layers whenever venturing into rugged or high-elevation terrain.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said Dailey’s safe return “reminds us of the value of every life, the strength of unity, and the calling to serve our neighbors in their greatest hour of need.”
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