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Missing Florence hunter found safe

Posted at 6:28 AM, Oct 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-23 10:10:42-04

HAMILTON – Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton said Monday night that the 77-year-old Florence hunter that was reported missing in the Bitterroot has been found and is safe.

Sheriff Holton said the man was located around 3 p.m. Monday by Ravalli County Search and Rescue volunteers, with helicopter assistance from the Montana National Guard.

The hunter was conscious but required medical attention, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital.

Sheriff Holton stated the man was found a little over 2 miles from where he was last reported seen and had been camping in the Daly Creek area southeast of Hamilton.

Sheriff Holton credited the diligent efforts by Ravalli County Search and Rescue and thanked them as well as the assistance from Two Bear Air, Choice Aviation, Malstrom AFB and the MT National Guard.

He also thanked the Granite County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue for their willingness to help if the search would have continued into the week.


(first report)

HAMILTON – Crews are looking for a hunter who has been reported missing in the Bitterroot.

Ravalli County Search and Rescue is searching for a 77-year-old Florence man who’s missing in the Daly Creek area of Skalkaho south of Hamilton.

The man was reported missing at approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday and is believed to have been missing since around noon on that day, according to Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton.

Three dog teams as well as air resources from Two Bear Air, LifeFlight, and the U.S. Air Force from Malstrom AFB have been called in to help in the search efforts.

Sheriff Holton says additional Montana National Guard air searches — as well as ground searches including the use of dogs is planned for Monday.