Oregon hunter rescued after missing in Tillamook State Forest for over 12 hours

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – An 82-year-old hunter was found more than 12 hours after he had gone missing in the Tillamook State Forest on Saturday.

The hunter and his party had been pursuing a bull elk west of the park’s Jones Creek Equestrian Staging Area when he did not return to their predetermined location. The rest of the party called 911 to report him missing around 9 p.m.

A search continued through the next day until the hunter was found before noon on Sunday, Sept. 8.

“This was a successful mission thanks to our dedicated TIllamook County search and rescue volunteers, TIllamook County Emergency Dispatchers, Oregon Department of Forestry employees, and TIllamook County Sheriff’s Office Deputies,” Deputy Chris Barnett said. “All of those people searched throughout the night and into the following day, with minimal or no sleep.”

According to rescuers, the hunter said he had an emergency location device but “was not familiar with its operation — essentially making the device useless.”