Links:

Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card (CORSAR): 

Colorado residents and visitors are well served by dedicated volunteer search and rescue teams. By purchasing a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card you are contributing to the Search and Rescue Fund, that reimburses teams for costs incurred in search and rescues activities across the State of Colorado. The CORSAR card is available from the Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) website for $5 for a one-year card and $20 for a five-year card.

The CORSAR card is not insurance and does not reimburse individuals nor does it pay for medical transport.

Click the CPW link above to go to the CORSAR home page.

Tips from the Posse:

Before you head out on the next adventure, download our handy Outdoor Survival Guide 2025 to give you some tips on what to take, what to wear and how to prepare.

You can also access the archive of Montrose Daily Press Tips from the Posse articles and other articles written by posse member Mark Rackay.

Members of:

The Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse, Inc., is a non-profit corporation organized to provide services through the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office. In Colorado, search and rescue is the responsibility of the County Sheriff and the Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse is a resource provided to the Sheriff or any other emergency agency in the county.

The Posse is comprised of volunteers who provide support to the Sheriff’s Office for Search and Rescue, Wildfire Suppression, mutual aid to other county emergency service providers and security to certain county events.

All the members of the Posse are highly trained, qualified and certified for the operations that they perform. These men and women give freely of their own time while being on call for an emergency 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While the Posse maintains a small fleet of vehicles and rescue equipment, many members use their own equipment, vehicles and ATV’s for these operations at their own expense.

The Posse does not charge for their services, but they do rely on the generous contributions from our neighbors and fellow citizens through an annual fund drive.

Any person interested in joining the Posse can submit an application for membership. Contact us using the mailing address, email address or phone number listed below for more information.

Montrose County Sheriff's Posse5 days ago

The work does not stop when the mission is completed. Sunday afternoon, three posse members and a deputy responded to Cabin Bench Road to rescue two stranded men from Delta. The mission took everyone through muddy conditions, turning to 18 inches of snow on top of the plateau.

The team brought the two men back safely but their truck remains hopeless stuck for a while. The team was back in town by eight PM. But they weren’t finished.

Today the team spent 3 hours pressure washing mud, mag chloride, and road grime, from the machines, vehicles, and trailers. Broken equipment needed repaired, and everything fueled up and ready for the next mission. This is the life behind the scenes of a posse member.

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Montrose County Sheriff's Posse2 weeks ago

There were four members of the posse who were late for the annual awards ceremony with the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office. The ceremony had everyone come with their class A uniforms and looking sharp, but these late arrivals wore their mission clothes, but they had a good excuse.

Four individuals attempted to make it across 25 Mesa but the storm yesterday afternoon thought better of it. With winds reaching 40 mph, cold temperatures and blowing snow, their vehicle became hopelessly stuck, along with a second truck sent to dig them out. Four of our members headed up the road with tracked ATVs, and brought these folks safely back to town, cold, wet, and tired, but no worse for wear.

The four posse members hit town just as the ceremony was wrapping up, and were told to come in anyway, even though they missed the festivities. They were wearing their callout clothes in the pictures. This demonstrates that these dedicated people are there for the community, 24/7, no matter what. Ask any member how many holidays they have spent on a rescue mission instead of being home with their families, and they do this as volunteers. Please remember to support the Posse with your donations because they cannot exist without your support. And a special thanks to the four that went up the hill to bring them folks home.

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Montrose County Sheriff's Posse2 weeks ago

The Sheriff’s Office had their annual awards ceremony last night, recognizing the deputies who went above and beyond to protect and care for our community and fellow citizens. A number of posse members were also recognized for their contributions as well. Congratulations to all the brave men and women who serve our county and thank you for being there for us.

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Montrose County Sheriff's Posse3 weeks ago

The Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse has a milestone award, called the Honorary Life Membership. This award is presented to any member who has served 20 years with the posse. Since 1964, the posse has bestowed 27 Honorary Life Memberships, out of the 198 members that have served.
Our newest Life Member is Paul Martin, who joined the posse December 12, 2005, and has served continuously since then, with two terms as President, one term Vice President, and 10 years as Treasurer.
Paul has been the primary grant writer since 2015, created and maintains the Posse website since 2013, and brought us the Cal Topo mapping program we all use, and has become our resident instructor and mapping expert.
During Paul’s tenure he has put in 6,145 hours which included 151 search and rescue missions, 190 community service and security events, and 10 fires. One of the things Paul has created and maintained is the database that keeps track of all those hours and events, which is a monumental task upon itself.

Please join us in congratulating Paul Martin for achieving this great honor, and thank you Paul for your long-standing and continuing service.

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Montrose County Sheriff's Posse2 months ago

The Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse, both East and West Division, were awarded the prestigious 2026 Montrose Humanitarian Award by the MLK Day Montrose Initiative, for their many hours of volunteerism, community service, and support to Montrose County. Congratulations and thank you to all members for their continued public service.

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Montrose County Sheriff's Posse2 months ago

https://www.montrosepress.com/news/columns/tips-from-the-posse-winter-storm-survival/article_4dce7eec-16a3-46bd-bda9-5f4d2dfffc33.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawPYYeFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFvcDJYcjdYN0dzYnJSOW1xc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHthlpEwzgbscVlNm9DnzeFusbBxZVrAydJOZZFKnmxawOxeAR4u9zeu9IBBG_aem_hxevlI93xUls_fizErIuzw

TIPS FROM THE POSSE: Winter storm survival

How do you survive a snowstorm when you are in the woods? Easy, just don’t get caught in one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Murphy, of Murphy’s Law fame

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Member Volunteer Hours:

2025  –  5,663 Hours
2024  –  5,552 Hours
2023  –  4,973 Hours
2022  –  4,775 Hours
2021  –  3,533 Hours
2020  –  3,356 Hours
2019  –  3,744 Hours
2018  –  3,351 Hours
2017  –  3,303 Hours
2016  –  3,252 Hours
2015  –  3,434 Hours