REVISED Missing Elk hunter-Revised, Gold Creek Rd 1703/Milk Creek

[carpsniperg2]

Praying he is found safe.

Those shots could not have been to far from that camp. The amount of people out there looking I would have thought would have found him with a fire going. I would say chances are he is to hurt to build a fire or on a cliff or rock slide or something where he cant make a fire.

Sounds like they have been hunting that area for awhile and the guys hunting with him I would think would kinds know the way he travels after hunting with him before maybe? I know when I am hunting a area I hunt a lot I get certain patterns and travel routes but if he was chasing critters then all bets off of course. Just random thoughts.

[fishngamereaper]

Praying he's found safe but every hour that passes is one hour past the golden hour.

With the resources they've used I would think if he was in his normal spots he would of been found..but that country is thick and steep in places.
I know for me, if I go missing in elk country I most likely will not be found.

Still holding out hope though for a miracle..

[yakimanoob]

We did not find him today.  The search effort will continue tomorrow.

[Naches Sportsman]

We did not find him today.  The search effort will continue tomorrow.

Are they still only wanting folks with SAR, LEO, or Fire Dept. credentials to help search? In between jobs right now and will travel back to WA to search if allowed….

I been turned around in that area before in the fog and snow and ended up hiking down to gold creek. Wasn’t too proud of it.

[yakimanoob]

We did not find him today.  The search effort will continue tomorrow.

Are they still only wanting folks with SAR, LEO, or Fire Dept. credentials to help search? In between jobs right now and will travel back to WA to search if allowed….

I been turned around in that area before in the fog and snow and ended up hiking down to gold creek. Wasn’t too proud of it.

I don’t know. Calling Kittitas Sheriffs office (RCC or main number) is probably the best way to find out.

[85yota]

Not trying to come off bad in this situation but my brother had a good question that someone here might able explain.. he was hunting the last weekend of the season in that area and was basically told they don't need/want help..question, when the hunter went missing why didn't they go across the mountains and say everyone willing and able come help look..the mountains were full of hunting camps and people who are prepared and already there..I bet tons of hunters would have dropped everything and gone looking immediately and since they were already there, prepared with time off one would think hundreds of hunters would be Jonny on the spot..I'm talking like 24hrs after he went missing. I can understand not wanting dogs running around if tracking k9s were there..but tons of hunters know that area so I would think it would make sense to have immediately had all hands on deck

[SuperX]

Not trying to come off bad in this situation but my brother had a good question that someone here might able explain.. he was hunting the last weekend of the season in that area and was basically told they don't need/want help..question, when the hunter went missing why didn't they go across the mountains and say everyone willing and able come help look..the mountains were full of hunting camps and people who are prepared and already there..I bet tons of hunters would have dropped everything and gone looking immediately and since they were already there, prepared with time off one would think hundreds of hunters would be Jonny on the spot..I'm talking like 24hrs after he went missing

Yeah it sounds like a no-brainer, but I bet they would say it was too hard to manage that many people who don't have radios, etc. and that they didn't want to have more hunters lost or injured requiring resources that should be going to the OG missing hunter.

Why not cut loose a FLIR copter or 2 right away and grid the area like they did in Oso?  I know drones are capable but are they the same capability as that?

[pianoman9701]

Not trying to come off bad in this situation but my brother had a good question that someone here might able explain.. he was hunting the last weekend of the season in that area and was basically told they don't need/want help..question, when the hunter went missing why didn't they go across the mountains and say everyone willing and able come help look..the mountains were full of hunting camps and people who are prepared and already there..I bet tons of hunters would have dropped everything and gone looking immediately and since they were already there, prepared with time off one would think hundreds of hunters would be Jonny on the spot..I'm talking like 24hrs after he went missing. I can understand not wanting dogs running around if tracking k9s were there..but tons of hunters know that area so I would think it would make sense to have immediately had all hands on deck

They didn't need more SARs and that would've been the result.

[85yota]

Knowing the area and the fact hes not found imop they could have used more sar..I don't understand the higher chance of more stranded hunters..there were hunters in every direction around them that were still hunting and putting the chance of another rescue just as high as it would be in that area if not way worse (wilderness area etc) than being of a road would be..

[yakimanoob]

Not trying to come off bad in this situation but my brother had a good question that someone here might able explain.. he was hunting the last weekend of the season in that area and was basically told they don't need/want help..question, when the hunter went missing why didn't they go across the mountains and say everyone willing and able come help look..the mountains were full of hunting camps and people who are prepared and already there..I bet tons of hunters would have dropped everything and gone looking immediately and since they were already there, prepared with time off one would think hundreds of hunters would be Jonny on the spot..I'm talking like 24hrs after he went missing. I can understand not wanting dogs running around if tracking k9s were there..but tons of hunters know that area so I would think it would make sense to have immediately had all hands on deck

I can speak to that, and don't worry, it's an understandable question and doesn't come off as bad. 

Normally, we don't get many members of the public volunteering to help search; when we do, we can typically put them on a SAR team and are thankful for the extra set of eyes and ears. 

In this case, the subject is a chief with Seattle Fire, and there have been hundreds of firefighters from all over the state volunteering on this mission.  It has been deeply heartwarming to see how many folks are willing to step up and go out into the gross weather to help find Jay or at worst bring closure to the family. 

Firefighters in general are tough, organized, disciplined, and capable folks, but they aren't specifically trained in wilderness search methods.  So the short answer to your question as to why a hunter or member of the public would have been turned away is that they already have lots and lots of volunteers who don't have wilderness SAR training.  Adding members of the public who aren't already a part of an organized team gets complicated for mission managers very quickly, and as pianoman said, presents an additional level of risk without any real increase in the probability of finding the subject. 

[yakimanoob]

On a different note, if you aren't familiar with the resources and methods being used on this search mission, please refrain from criticizing.  It's foolish to ask why something wasn't done when you don't know whether that thing was done in the first place.

This is a traumatic event for Jay, the family, and everyone who knows them.  Let's keep it respectful and positive. 

[pianoman9701]

I get your point. I think it comes from a concern more than a criticism. People who don't know about certain tools wonder why they're not being used. FLIR, for example, is a great search tool...if you can actually put aircraft up - weather dependent. And the suggestions show frustration  because their posters care about him being found.

[Igor]

On a different note, if you aren't familiar with the resources and methods being used on this search mission, please refrain from criticizing.  It's foolish to ask why something wasn't done when you don't know whether that thing was done in the first place.

This is a traumatic event for Jay, the family, and everyone who knows them.  Let's keep it respectful and positive.

Thank you for your insights into the situation, as well as your frequent updates.  Hopefully, those that are inclined to criticize will heed your advice.  Thanks again !!

[OltHunter]

Don't want to derail thread - but wanted to make sure everyone know about PLBs.

I never knew about these until recently, but Personal Location Beacons (PLB) are cheap insurance when you don't have a satellite messenger.

This just goes to show you how hard it is to find someone off trail, baring a heart attack or traumatic injury in super thick canopy cover where you can't get a signal, these are invaluable to me for these types of situations.  I carry one as well as a satellite messenger incase of a battery failure on either unit. 

They are around $300 and last 5 years before a battery replacement is needed.

[yakimanoob]

Don't want to derail thread - but wanted to make sure everyone know about PLBs.

I never knew about these until recently, but Personal Location Beacons (PLB) are cheap insurance when you don't have a satellite messenger.

This just goes to show you how hard it is to find someone off trail, baring a heart attack or traumatic injury in super thick canopy cover where you can't get a signal, these are invaluable to me for these types of situations.  I carry one as well as a satellite messenger incase of a battery failure on either unit. 

They are around $300 and last 5 years before a battery replacement is needed.

This x1,000,000.   PLB, inReach, SPOT, etc. Take your pick, just get one.

Satellite locators make for bored SAR teams 😉