Personal locator beacons

Hunters travelling to remote forests or spending multiple nights in wilderness areas should always carry a personal locator beacon (PLB). Many areas of NSW do not have mobile phone coverage, and in the event of an emergency, there is no way to call for help.

When activated, a PLB works in a similar way to a GPS. The international search-and-rescue satellite system listens for distress signals transmitted from earth. When it hears a signal, it notifies the nearest ground station with the coordinates of the PLB.

Search-and-rescue authorities commence recovery operations as soon as possible. If you have registered your PLB online and you keep your hunting trip details up to date, search operations can begin much sooner.

Rescue times can vary considerably for a number of reasons, so make sure you have your survival pack with you. When you hear or see search-and-rescue personnel, use your torch or mirror or signal fire to pinpoint your location.