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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that it is suspending its large-scale search and rescue operation of a missing hunter after a week.
The sheriff’s office said 51-year-old Hubbard resident Devon Dobek still hasn’t been found and it remains an active missing person investigation.
Dobek, an experienced hunter, went missing in the Mount Hood National Forest, about 20 miles outside of Estacada, on Oct. 31. He previously messaged a friend that he would return early after getting a deer but never returned.
Earlier this week, high winds and fog hampered the effort. Despite this, search and rescue teams from multiple agencies soldiered on for days on end.
After more than 100 personnel participated in the search and rescue over the weekend, dozens of people continued showing up to volunteer each day during the work week. In total, more than 4,000 personnel hours were spent combing the area of the Mount Hood National Forest surrounding Dobek’s vehicle. The difficult terrain included areas that had been damaged by 2020 wildfires and had bad cell service.
Dobek’s truck was located near Fish Creek Trailhead off of Southeast Highway 224 and 54 Road, but there was no sign of the man himself, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said.
Clackamas County Search and Rescue began the search on Friday around 10:30 p.m., with reports of gunshots being heard, though the exact source was never found.
The National Guard, Air Force Reserves, drone teams, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers, Hood River Crag Rats and other agencies and volunteer groups all participated in the search. Helicopters, cell phone tracking specialists, K9 units and ATVs also helped.
On Wednesday, ground crews cited unfavorable weather conditions creating safety concerns, with high winds causing falling trees and limbs in some areas. Fog also interfered with visibility, ending a planned drone search early. Unfavorable weather conditions continued into Thursday.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said additional searches may resume if new information or evidence is discovered.
Anyone with information about Dobek is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
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Danny Peterson
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