DECATUR, Ala. (AP) -- Authorities say a lost hunter stayed in a cave to keep warm until he was rescued from the Bankhead National Forest.

Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Mitchell said 46-year-old John LaPietra of Madison conserved food, water and his cellphone battery before he was rescued Tuesday morning. He periodically texted friends and rescuers in an effort to tell them his location.

The Decatur Daily reports that the nights -- especially Monday night -- were cold in the forest after LaPietra became separated Saturday from friends during a weekend deer hunting trip.

Mitchell says one of the hunters made contact with LaPietra with a text message. He asked what LaPietra could see. His reply -- a high peak, a creek nearby and caves -- gave searchers a good idea of where he was.