Shelter is another necessity. 

“The nights will still get cold up there,” Hawke said, emphasizing that unless they brought proper gear, they’d have to build or find natural cover. 

Law enforcement personnel respond to a reported shooting in Anaconda, Montana, on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Joseph Scheller/The Montana Standard via AP)

Navigating remote terrain presents additional challenges. Hawke believes they likely wouldn’t use GPS devices out of fear of being tracked, meaning they’d need to rely on maps, compasses or local knowledge.

“I doubt they’re relying on a GPS, because that would ping them,” he said.

Ultimately, survival comes down to strategy: whether to stay hidden or keep moving. 

“You’re either hiding or you’re running,” said Hawke. “And hiding means, sooner or later, you’re going to leave a footprint. If you’re running, you’re going to make all kinds of mistakes and there is a higher likelihood of getting caught.”

“It is almost impossible for a human to survive for any period of time without leaving a sign,” he said.

A $10,000 reward was available for information leading to Brown’s capture. A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading directly to Decker’s arrest. Officials say he is considered to be armed and dangerous.