Pax and the Hunter

At 9:00 a.m. on a cold blustery morning in late October, 1977, a hunter left his vehicle and walked into the woods near Beauleau Lake, BC. He did not return and at 5:45 p.m., his worried companion reported him missing.

Cpl. Gillette and police service dog Pax, then stationed at Vernon, arrived at 8:10 p.m. Blowing snow had obliterated any visible tracks but as Pax entered the dense bush, he immediately picked up a trail heading southeast. Numerous times on the trail, the dog was distracted by cross tracks which were later determined to have been made by the subject wandering in circles.

After approximately one hour and three miles of searching over windfalls and rock slides, Pax located the hunter. He had injured his leg and hand and was bleeding profusely from a cut thumb.

Because of his injuries and the almost impassable terrain, it took over two hours to return through the cold blowing snow back to the vehicle. From there he was taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital where, after examination and treatment, it was determined that no permanent injuries had been sustained.

The hunter had been in the bush for approximately twelve hours. He admitted being lost for nine. Pax's finding him after only one hour's searching probably prevented him incurring further injury and, when one considers all the factors present, may even have saved his life.