Beaverhead Search And Rescue Responds To Two Hunting-Related Callouts in Late November, Early December

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, Mont. — Beaverhead Search and Rescue responded to two separate search missions in recent days after a largely quiet hunting season, highlighting the importance of clear communication and trip planning in the backcountry.

The first callout occurred on Nov. 29, when teams were dispatched to search for an overdue hunter and his daughter in the area near Wooster Mountain, west of the Big Hole Battlefield. The pair had been dropped off around 7 a.m. but did not return to their expected pickup location.

Search and Rescue was notified at approximately 8:40 p.m. and deployed three teams to search designated areas by vehicle and on foot. The missing individuals were located at about 2:30 a.m. in good condition after getting into a family member’s vehicle. Officials said miscommunication among family members regarding hunting and pickup plans, along with GPS units that had run out of battery, contributed to the situation.

Twelve SAR members participated in the operation, contributing a total of 105 person-hours to the search effort.

A second mission took place on Dec. 2, involving a missing 80-year-old hunter who had been afield since Nov. 22 and was expected home by Thanksgiving. The hunter was not reported missing until Dec. 1. Limited information was available, including only a vehicle description and a general hunting area near Skinner Meadows.

Four teams were deployed to quickly check common roads in the area to locate the hunter’s vehicle and establish a last known point. A hasty team was able to locate the individual a short distance off Skinner Meadows Road. Officials cited unclear communication between the hunter and his spouse, lack of cell service, and the absence of a GPS device as factors that delayed the search.

Eleven SAR members responded to that callout, contributing 51 person-hours.

Beaverhead Search and Rescue emphasized that both incidents serve as reminders of the importance of sharing detailed trip plans with family or friends and carrying reliable methods of communication when recreating in areas without cell coverage.

SAR officials also thanked their members and the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office for their coordinated efforts during both searches.

The statement was issued by Kolby Malesich, commander of Beaverhead Search and Rescue.