On October 9, 2014 at approximately 1926 hours, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a group of hunters who reported that one member of their hunting party, 73 year old Fred Lantz of Esparto, was missing.  The hunters reported that they had been hunting in the Mud Lake area and had last seen their hunting partner at approximately 1600 hours.  Lantz was dressed appropriately but did not carry food or water and was unfamiliar with the area.  Lantz reportedly carried a cellular telephone and two way radio on his person.

The responding Sheriff’s Deputy requested the Amador County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Team be activated.  That Amador County Sheriff’s SAR Coordinator and one SAR member responded to the scene and spent the night searching the area on ATVs.  Attempts to locate the subject through cellular telephone pings, by radio and by ATV were unsuccessful. 

The next morning, at first light, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office SAR Team began a ground search of the area.  At approximately 0900 hours, Lantz responded to calls on his radio.  Lantz was asked to fire several shots from his rifle to better pin point his location.  Amador County Sheriff’s SAR was able to hear the shots and respond to his location.  Lantz was located in good health and did not require medical attention.  Lantz informed searchers he got disoriented and turned the wrong way on the trail on his way back to camp.

Posted by TSPN TV on 10-15-14