so much for bay and shoot.

Sounds to me like this gentleman is learning a new terrain, and is in an new area like he mentioned (therefore couldn't reach out to anyone for help right away). I must say, when shat happens, and it's time to assess the situation, it sounds like it was pretty imperative to get back to his truck and get home, or he would have been stranded out there as well, and who knows what could have happened. His dog would have been REAL shat outta luck if his owner died of hypothermia out there. Like others mention, it's ALWAYS easy to say coulda shoulda woulda when you weren't personally there in that specific situation at that very moment, knowing and feeling all of the factors. I'm willing to bet that next time he goes out, he'll have a best some extra ammo on him, as well as be even better prepared for the weather. To make the bold statement that this man must not care for his dogs is pretty extreme. From what I do know of this guy, he takes great pride in his dogs and does take good care of them. I'd love to hear now how many folks out there have never been caught in a sticky situation!
ANY way, hope you got your dog back, and he's warming up by a heater now. Sounds like he's got a lot of heart!