Missing hunter rescued in Tillamook State Forest

An 82-year-old bow hunter has been rescued from the Tillamook State Forest

On September 7, 2024, an 82-year-old bow hunter did not return to a predetermined location with his hunting party after pursuing a bull elk west of the Jones Creek Equestrian Staging Area in the Tillamook State Forest Sept. 7, according to Tillamook County Sheriff’s Officce officials.

“The man is a diabetic and his hunting party was very concerned for his welfare,” TCSO stated in a release. “They contacted Tillamook 911 at about 9 p.m. to report the missing hunter.”

After initial information was received, Tillamook County Search and Rescue (SAR) was activated and began searching throughout the night and into the following morning. Additional resources and searchers were mobilized for further searching of the area.

The TCSO reported that 13 SAR volunteers and six Deputies, and employees from the Oregon Department of Forestry responded and searched.

The missing hunter was located before noon on 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,” TCSO SAR Coordinator Deputy Chris Barnett said. “All of those people searched throughout the night and into the following day, with minimal or no sleep.”

The hunter had an emergency location device but was not familiar with its operation - essentially making the device useless, according to Barnett.

“Please understand the operating procedures of these lifesaving device, “he said.

The name of the hunter and where he was from was not immediately available.