The week-long search for a hunter who vanished in Oregon’s Mount Hood National Forest has been officially suspended, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Fifty-one-year-old Devon Dobek of Hubbard was reported missing on October 31 after he failed to return from a hunting trip. His truck was discovered near the Fish Creek Trailhead off SE Highway 224 and 54 Road — but there was no sign of Dobek or a deer.
What began as a large-scale search effort quickly became one of the most intensive rescue operations the area has seen this year. Over the course of several days, more than 100 searchers joined the effort, supported by drones with thermal imaging, K9 units, and an Oregon National Guard helicopter. By Monday, the operation was scaled back to about 50 searchers due to weather conditions and the difficult terrain.
The sheriff’s office described the search area as steep, heavily forested, and scarred by the 2020 wildfires — with little to no cell service and dangerous slopes that made progress slow and exhausting. Despite extensive efforts, no trace of Dobek was found.
Officials emphasized that the decision to suspend the active ground search does not mean the investigation is over. The sheriff’s office continues to pursue any leads and will revisit the search if new information emerges.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or submit a tip online through the department’s official channels. Tipsters are asked to reference case number 25-022972.
Family, friends, and members of the Hubbard community recently held a prayer vigil for Dobek, expressing hope for answers as they wait for any sign of what might have happened in the rugged backcountry of Mount Hood National Forest.
