Police have urged people to obtain the proper permits before entering private property after two Dunedin men became lost in a Wenita forestry block near Mosgiel last week.
The two men, aged 20 and 22, sparked a police search after they were reported missing early on Friday, more than 12 hours after they set out bike riding in the forestry block.
They were found by searchers about 11.30am as they returned to their car and trailer at Berwick village.
Sergeant Kevin Davidson, of Mosgiel, said the pair became lost and went to ground before finding their way back to the vehicle in the morning.
They had been travelling with one quad bike and one off-road motorcycle.
Sgt Davidson said the pair entered private property at Wenita Forest Products and should not have been there without getting a permit from the forestry owners.
''In another hour it would have become a search and rescue operation, which would have meant anyone with a permit would have had it cancelled and no-one would have been allowed in there.
''[These searches] impact quite severely on other people and other users of that area.''
Sgt Davidson said the incident was a reminder to people to obtain the proper permits before entering private areas.
''The main reason is if situations like this occur, where a person becomes lost or overdue, then we've got an idea as to what block they're in.''
Sgt Davidson said the pair did the right thing by going to ground and attempting to find their way back at dawn.
