Been following this closely. Not the outcome that I was hoping for. RIP hunters.
Missing elk hunters in Southern Colorado
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89 Replies |
Last: 5 days ago by AgLA06
As feared. RIP
Curious on their fatal mistakes for not making it back out. Injury / accident? Lost?
Curious on their fatal mistakes for not making it back out. Injury / accident? Lost?
Damn. Heartbreaking. I am glad they were found and the families have some closure. RIP fellas and T&Ps to their families/friends. May the heavens be filled with elk, mule deer, and other wild game for you to continue doing what you love.
Just back to South Fork from fishing the Canejos for a couple of days. We had the opportunity to speak to several horseback SAR folks …. They were packing up and leaving due to the discovery of the both deceased hunters. They were just 2 miles from the trailhead / vehicle with all their gear. Apparently the garmin was unresponsive … there's a lot of lessons we can learn from their unfortunate and untimely deaths.
Redundant comms, initiate tracking, gear … use it. Prayers to the families.
Redundant comms, initiate tracking, gear … use it. Prayers to the families.
No obvious cause of death:
Good article:
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/19/colorado-elk-hunters/
Quote:
No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say.
…
An investigation into what caused the deaths of Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko is ongoing, said Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin.
Autopsies were expected to be conducted Monday in El Paso County, Martin said.
Search and rescue teams found two unidentified bodies about 11 a.m. Thursday about 2 miles from the Rio de Los Pinos trailhead following a massive search effort.
…
Martin, who did not see the scene of the recovery, said no determination has been made about cause or manner of death.
"It's a big mystery to a whole bunch of people," Martin said.
Good article:
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/19/colorado-elk-hunters/
P.H. Dexippus said:
No obvious cause of death:Quote:
No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say.
…
An investigation into what caused the deaths of Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko is ongoing, said Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin.
Autopsies were expected to be conducted Monday in El Paso County, Martin said.
Search and rescue teams found two unidentified bodies about 11 a.m. Thursday about 2 miles from the Rio de Los Pinos trailhead following a massive search effort.
…
Martin, who did not see the scene of the recovery, said no determination has been made about cause or manner of death.
"It's a big mystery to a whole bunch of people," Martin said.
Good article:
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/19/colorado-elk-hunters/
Other than the misleading title.
Article says nearby station recorded mid thirties. Cold, wind, mid thirties means they probably died of hypothermia. Cant sit cant goto sleep, youll go euphoric then never wake up.
“You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.”
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn
JFABNRGR said:P.H. Dexippus said:
No obvious cause of death:Quote:
No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say.
…
An investigation into what caused the deaths of Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko is ongoing, said Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin.
Autopsies were expected to be conducted Monday in El Paso County, Martin said.
Search and rescue teams found two unidentified bodies about 11 a.m. Thursday about 2 miles from the Rio de Los Pinos trailhead following a massive search effort.
…
Martin, who did not see the scene of the recovery, said no determination has been made about cause or manner of death.
"It's a big mystery to a whole bunch of people," Martin said.
Good article:
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/19/colorado-elk-hunters/
Other than the misleading title.
Article says nearby station recorded mid thirties. Cold, wind, mid thirties means they probably died of hypothermia. Cant sit cant goto sleep, youll go euphoric then never wake up.
Why is headline misleading? It says:
"No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say"
I guess it might have said "no obvious injuries or foul play…" to be more clear. Is that what you're thinking?
Yes. Media does what media does.
“You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.”
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Just ran across this story myself. Sadly, probably going to be exposure, or possibly lightning strike.
11,700 feet is up there, and undoubtedly freezing at night.
Always have an emergency blanket and a few hot hands type warming packs to beat hypothermia on your person at all times while hiking/hunting/camping.
Very sad.
11,700 feet is up there, and undoubtedly freezing at night.
Always have an emergency blanket and a few hot hands type warming packs to beat hypothermia on your person at all times while hiking/hunting/camping.
Very sad.
Seems odd. Humans are pretty resilient. Sure people "just die," but two people usually dont.
I will no longer discuss politics with you. I reject your premises and world view. I am finished trying to compromise with you.
Two people dying of hypothermia when they are unlimited and can keep moving seems odd. Likely give. What has been disclosed, sure. I have been in some of those high country storms and it can be absolutely terrifying. My first thought was lightning strike, but the reports say no obvious cause of death was apparent.
Reports now that lightning is what killed them.
The coroner says it was lighting. RIP young fellows.
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/22/hunters-found-dead-victims-of-lightning-strike/
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/22/hunters-found-dead-victims-of-lightning-strike/
JFABNRGR said:P.H. Dexippus said:
No obvious cause of death:Quote:
No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say.
…
An investigation into what caused the deaths of Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko is ongoing, said Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin.
Autopsies were expected to be conducted Monday in El Paso County, Martin said.
Search and rescue teams found two unidentified bodies about 11 a.m. Thursday about 2 miles from the Rio de Los Pinos trailhead following a massive search effort.
…
Martin, who did not see the scene of the recovery, said no determination has been made about cause or manner of death.
"It's a big mystery to a whole bunch of people," Martin said.
Good article:
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/19/colorado-elk-hunters/
Other than the misleading title.
Article says nearby station recorded mid thirties. Cold, wind, mid thirties means they probably died of hypothermia. Cant sit cant goto sleep, youll go euphoric then never wake up.
Want to try again?
Terrible but I'd rather die of lightning strike than slowly from freezing to death
ttha_aggie_09 said:
Terrible but I'd rather die of lightning strike than slowly from freezing to death
This. Hopefully it was quick.
P.H. Dexippus said:JFABNRGR said:P.H. Dexippus said:
No obvious cause of death:Quote:
No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say.
…
An investigation into what caused the deaths of Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko is ongoing, said Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin.
Autopsies were expected to be conducted Monday in El Paso County, Martin said.
Search and rescue teams found two unidentified bodies about 11 a.m. Thursday about 2 miles from the Rio de Los Pinos trailhead following a massive search effort.
…
Martin, who did not see the scene of the recovery, said no determination has been made about cause or manner of death.
"It's a big mystery to a whole bunch of people," Martin said.
Good article:
https://coloradosun.com/2025/09/19/colorado-elk-hunters/
Other than the misleading title.
Article says nearby station recorded mid thirties. Cold, wind, mid thirties means they probably died of hypothermia. Cant sit cant goto sleep, youll go euphoric then never wake up.
Want to try again?
So you win, they didn't, I was wrong and the key word in my post was "probably".
As sad as it is - Lighting Strike is somewhat comforting knowing they didn't suffer or it wasn't a mistake they made.
I guess their mistake was stalking a bull during dangerous thunderstorms. But this final explanation makes sense on why fit, able-bodied, experienced young men didn't make it back out despite not being far from the trailhead and their vehicle. RIP.
The key word in your post was "misleading", and the only reason I replied.
I made a call with my dad back in the 70's of two people down and out on a golf course in central Texas. Turned out it was a man and his wife playing golf and they sought shelter under an oak tree grove on the edge of the green during a thunderstorm.
The man was standing with the golf club over his shoulder a witness said. He took a direct hit of lightning to the golf club. His wife was standing next to him. It got them both. I can assure you there was no mistaking what happened …. They had a lot more trauma to their bodies than three little match stick head burn spots.
I will say I will never forget the sight.
Moral of the story… don't stand under a tree during a thunderstorm with a golf club stuck up in the air like a lightning rod.
The man was standing with the golf club over his shoulder a witness said. He took a direct hit of lightning to the golf club. His wife was standing next to him. It got them both. I can assure you there was no mistaking what happened …. They had a lot more trauma to their bodies than three little match stick head burn spots.
I will say I will never forget the sight.
Moral of the story… don't stand under a tree during a thunderstorm with a golf club stuck up in the air like a lightning rod.
Yea I don't get that part. Back in 78 I got blown up in a pipeline accident and was admitted to Lubbock Methodist burn ward.
There was a fellow in there that got 40,000 volts through a pinhole in his gauntlet glove from a high power line where he was a lineman. That voltage blew the end off every appendage protruding from his body . Yea, all of them.
There was a fellow in there that got 40,000 volts through a pinhole in his gauntlet glove from a high power line where he was a lineman. That voltage blew the end off every appendage protruding from his body . Yea, all of them.
Yes sir. I'm sure you have seen what a lightning strike does to a tree when hit…..now imagine a dude holding a golf club over his shoulder…..just about the same effect. His wife was not quite as bad.
Not trying to derail but maybe there is a lesson or two to learn here to mitigate you risks of getting struck by lightning.
Do not:
Sit under tree in thunderstorm
Carry your gunn or anything metal above you head
Sit in a deer blind in lightning storms
What else?
No idea what to do besides pray when:
On a boat in thunderstorm (other than lay rods flat and get the hell out of dodge and back to slip or launch
Duck hunting - sitting in a metal frame blind in the middle of a pond…. Gtfo, I guess?
Obviously the best way to prevent disaster is to avoid it but sometimes storm pop up out of no where.
Do not:
Sit under tree in thunderstorm
Carry your gunn or anything metal above you head
Sit in a deer blind in lightning storms
What else?
No idea what to do besides pray when:
On a boat in thunderstorm (other than lay rods flat and get the hell out of dodge and back to slip or launch
Duck hunting - sitting in a metal frame blind in the middle of a pond…. Gtfo, I guess?
Obviously the best way to prevent disaster is to avoid it but sometimes storm pop up out of no where.
Yea mesquite trees in south Texas basically explode.
BTW, if you find said tree, the pieces blown off really burn nicely in smoker or grill. Not sure why but that's been my experience.
BTW, if you find said tree, the pieces blown off really burn nicely in smoker or grill. Not sure why but that's been my experience.
If you have carbon bows (cams?) and trekking poles, what else would lightning want to strike?
suburban cowboy said:
If you have carbon bows (cams?) and trekking poles, what else would lightning want to strike?
Most commonly the ground or nearby tree, structure, etc. More fatalities from lightning result from ground current than from direct strikes.
in lightening storm, you are supposed to find a low spot. Stand on some insulation if you have it ( sleeping pad) and put your elbows on your knees with your clasping your hands together while squatting - if you get struck, this position may prevent the lightening from going through your heart.ttha_aggie_09 said:
Not trying to derail but maybe there is a lesson or two to learn here to mitigate you risks of getting struck by lightning.
Do not:
Sit under tree in thunderstorm
Carry your gunn or anything metal above you head
Sit in a deer blind in lightning storms
What else?
No idea what to do besides pray when:
On a boat in thunderstorm (other than lay rods flat and get the hell out of dodge and back to slip or launch
Duck hunting - sitting in a metal frame blind in the middle of a pond…. Gtfo, I guess?
Obviously the best way to prevent disaster is to avoid it but sometimes storm pop up out of no where.
AgDad121619 said:in lightening storm, you are supposed to find a low spot. Stand on some insulation if you have it ( sleeping pad) and put your elbows on your knees with your clasping your hands together while squatting - if you get struck, this position may prevent the lightening from going through your heart.ttha_aggie_09 said:
Not trying to derail but maybe there is a lesson or two to learn here to mitigate you risks of getting struck by lightning.
Do not:
Sit under tree in thunderstorm
Carry your gunn or anything metal above you head
Sit in a deer blind in lightning storms
What else?
No idea what to do besides pray when:
On a boat in thunderstorm (other than lay rods flat and get the hell out of dodge and back to slip or launch
Duck hunting - sitting in a metal frame blind in the middle of a pond…. Gtfo, I guess?
Obviously the best way to prevent disaster is to avoid it but sometimes storm pop up out of no where.
Yes, all that. And keep your feet close together if possible.
ttha_aggie_09
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Good stuff, keep it coming
Don't get caught on top of the ridges….some have iron ore in them and become lightening sponges.
Charismatic Megafauna
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AG
8 people were killed by lightning strike in Colorado from 2015-2024. This should be very near the bottom of your list of concerns when going elk hunting. Tragedy is exactly what this was.
Simply put you can say it was their time. We never know when that is coming.
Yeah, I don't think this is a genuine concern for most folks but if stuck in this situation it's nice to know that I can keep my feet close together or do whatever anti-lightning voodoo to hopefully increase my odds of living
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