(WNY News Now) – A missing Pennsylvania hunter was safely rescued in the snowy woods of Westfield, thanks to the swift response of deputies, a K9 unit, and local fire departments.

WESTFIELD, NY — A Pennsylvania man was rescued late Friday evening after getting lost while tracking a deer in the rugged, snow-covered woods off Lyons Road in the Town of Westfield.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident around 7:34 p.m. after the hunter contacted a family member with his coordinates, moments before his cell phone became inoperable. The hunter, 45, was deep in the woods with limited visibility and suboptimal cell coverage, raising concerns for his safety in the cold conditions.

Deputies quickly mobilized, braving the challenging terrain with the assistance of K9 Bentley, who played a pivotal role in locating the man. The North Lake Fire District deployed their all-terrain ARGO vehicle to support the search effort.

By 9:45 p.m., the hunter was found and safely escorted out of the woods by 10:36 p.m. He was evaluated by the Sherman Fire Department on the roadside and, aside from exhaustion, was unharmed.