Over 100 join search for missing hunter in Mount Hood National Forest

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — More than 100 searchers were on the ground Sunday in a continued effort to locate a hunter who went missing in the Mount Hood National Forest two days before.

Hubbard resident Devon Dobek, 51, was reported to be missing in the area roughly 20 miles southeast from Estacada, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Dobek was originally expected to return Friday night, but messaged a friend that he would be returning early after getting a deer. However, he never arrived.

Officials said his truck was located near Fish Creek Trailhead off of Southeast Highway 224 and 54 Road, but there was no sign of him.

Clackamas County Search and Rescue then began looking for Dobek around 10:30 p.m. Friday. Officials say they also heard gunshots at various times throughout the night, but have not pinpointed their location.

Efforts to locate Dobek using cell phone and GPS tracking began Saturday, but were unsuccessful due to the weak at sometimes nonexistent signal in the area.

Additional searchers joined the operation at 8 a.m. on Saturday, and included drone teams, K9s and ATVs. Once the weather cleared up, the sheriff’s office fixed-wing Cessna searched from the air.

With further improvement in the weather on Sunday, crews deployed additional drones and were given more air support from CCSO's Aviation Unit and an Oregon National Guard helicopter.

The search is expected to continue until Sunday night and resume on Monday morning, officials said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.