Thread: PLB saves hunter

I know of someone who spent a week out injured simply because he had no PLB was lucky to survive.

Me on the long line



Pretty cool when you look back on it 10 years later

The PLB made a very bad day end pretty well.

I probably would have survived a night on the hill.
But only if my foreign hunting companion could have gotten to our camp and back to me that night.

Then we would have had another 3 days waiting for the scheduled helicopter pick up to find our abandoned camp and raise the alarm.
That would have been agony for us both

Originally Posted by akaroa1

Me on the long line

Attachment 270853

Pretty cool when you look back on it 10 years later

great photo
isn't it
funny how when the dust settles, and the pros arrive to save the day the focus changes back to "I should document this" good thing he did Aswell that is one truly good photo

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

they are certainly life savers literally
a personal mate of mine but also a member here had to pop his plb a few years back after taking a huge tumble while hunting
it's an essential part of any outdoor kit be it fishing hunting tramping

it's the one bit of kit you buy intending to never use but they'll save your life if it all turns into a cluster fuck

In 12 years of owning one, I have never pushed the button on mine but I reckon it doesn’t owe me anything either, I still do all the usual of letting someone know my eta at home, trip plan etc, but since I have had it, I have had much more confidence to do bigger trips solo. My partner quite often does solo trips too since I bought one for her.

One thing I have always wondered about and am interested to hear the forum wisdom on, is what about if you’re ok but overdue?

Example scenario could be due home Sunday night but still waiting for a flood to subside on Tuesday morning. You’re dry and warm and fed but you know people are worried and maybe even looking for you.

Should you press the button so they can find you fast and get on with their day?

Originally Posted by longshot

One thing I have always wondered about and am interested to hear the forum wisdom on, is what about if you’re ok but overdue?

Example scenario could be due home Sunday night but still waiting for a flood to subside on Tuesday morning. You’re dry and warm and fed but you know people are worried and maybe even looking for you.

Should you press the button so they can find you fast and get on with their day?

Plb is for life and death only
If you run out of food two days ago and still unable to get out then maybe
But simply to let you family know your ok nup

That is where the inreach or the new starlink satellite text on modern phones is the go

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

great photo
isn't it
funny how when the dust settles, and the pros arrive to save the day the focus changes back to "I should document this" good thing he did Aswell that is one truly good photo

This is me on the long line out of the hole I was in



Then they landed me on the ridge and did another assessment



Came back and landed beside me and loaded me inside the machine with my head by the pilots feet and looking up through the rotors

Two helicopters up on the ridge and another waiting in Franz with a 4 person medical team to start work there

Going in the door



My hunting buddy came out with me

The other machine was there to pull the crew out that couldn't fit in the machine whith Max and I

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

Plb is for life and death only
If you run out of food two days ago and still unable to get out then maybe
But simply to let you family know your ok nup

That is where the inreach or the new starlink satellite text on modern phones is the go

Agree let others raise the alarm if your ok but arent in serious trouble. That's why I got an InReach to add to the PLB. Primarily to give a means of non emergency communication to avoid a callout in the situation I have to wait for a river to drop etc. Or i used it when I ended up with a scalpel in the thigh to get medical advise whether i should use the PLB.

I don't have one. Have spent two nights out unexpectedly over the years and it doesn't hurt you, just long boring nights. As for being injured, I always think your more likely to have a car crash on the way there. I think these news articles unintentionally emphasise the danger of it and make it sound worse than it is. But I make a point of not getting lost.

I have called the police and had a search and rescue operation for a friend of mine who got lost. He was out for two nights in winter. He was fine, mostly his trauma was mental. He told me a lot of what went on was between him and god. I said, you should learn how to read a fucking map and then you wont have to go to church.

Originally Posted by Huntn

Did he not have a GPS and a torch?? I don't go bush without my GPS, phone with topo map on it, a torch and rain coat. It doesn't matter if I'm only going for a morning hunt and its the middle of summer with no rain in the forecast I still always carry those 4 items. Actually 5 items, always carry my PLB too.

I do wonder way people/hunting party's set off there PLB after being lost for less than 24 hours. Obviously it's a different story if you injured.

In some country, limestone etc, even if you do have a torch you are better to just wait for daylight. Especially if you don't know the area.

Plb is for life and death only

This is 100% incorrect.

The decision to activate a beacon is far more circumstantial than that black and white statement.
Someone reading that and taking it as gospel may make a very poorly considered decision one day on their own, or someone else’s behalf.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

In some country, limestone etc, even if you do have a torch you are better to just wait for daylight. Especially if you don't know the area.

This is correct, nothing worse than blundering into a tomo in the dark... Just about done it once in daylight, scared the crap out of myself thats for sure. Was taking the shortcut through the flax bushes, bastard bushes hid the edge.

Originally Posted by John Duxbury

I don't have one. Have spent two nights out unexpectedly over the years and it doesn't hurt you, just long boring nights. As for being injured, I always think your more likely to have a car crash on the way there. I think these news articles unintentionally emphasise the danger of it and make it sound worse than it is. But I make a point of not getting lost.

I have called the police and had a search and rescue operation for a friend of mine who got lost. He was out for two nights in winter. He was fine, mostly his trauma was mental. He told me a lot of what went on was between him and god. I said, you should learn how to read a fucking map and then you wont have to go to church.

Not getting lost isn't going to help you when you are at the bottom of cliff with a massive flap of your scalp torn off and both your shoulders dislocated.

It would also be pretty bloody useful at the car crash you are more likely to have on the way to your hunting trip.