An Oamaru man was winched to safety in the dark after he became lost while hunting in the Waianakarua Scenic Reserve southwest of Herbert on Monday.
An Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter spokesman said a helicopter was called to find the man about 2.30am.
Crew member Doug Flett said the man's hunting companions had set up camp and when the man, believed to be in his 40s, failed to show by a specific time they activated a search beacon.
The helicopter crew found the campsite and within an hour located the lost man in a branch of the Waianakarua River.
''It's pretty gnarly country in there. I've hunted that area myself, but obviously he got disorientated and lost his way [at dusk],'' Mr Flett said
The crew used night-vision goggles to find the man, a task made easier by the lost man's decision to wear a headlamp.
A paramedic was lowered down to check on the man and both were winched up before the man was dropped at the hunting campsite.
''I'm sure he would have appreciated the hot food and a sleeping bag,'' Mr Flett said.
The man was not injured.
