Remains Identified as Man Who Vanished After Messaging Friend About Returning Early from Hunting Trip

Remains discovered earlier this month in Mount Hood National Forest have been identified as those of a hunter who vanished after telling a friend he was heading home early from his trip, officials said.

In a news release issued Tuesday, Nov. 25, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said the medical examiner confirmed the remains belong to 51-year-old Devon Christopher Dobek of Hubbard, Ore. His death has been ruled accidental.

Dobek was reported missing on Oct. 31 after he failed to return home from a hunting trip in the forest.

“The missing hunter, 51-year-old Devon Dobek of Hubbard, was due to return from his hunting trip late Friday night but had messaged a friend that he was returning early after getting a deer,” officials previously said.

Deputies later found Dobek’s truck near the Fish Creek Trailhead, off SE Hwy 224 and 54 Rd., but there was no sign of him or the deer. Friends had described Dobek as an experienced hunter who was outfitted with proper gear, according to the sheriff’s office.

That evening, search teams began combing the surrounding area. At one point, searchers heard gunshots they believed could have come from Dobek, but they were unable to pinpoint where the sounds originated.

On Nov. 7, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office announced it was suspending large-scale search and rescue operations for Dobek.

“The large-scale search efforts were active from Friday, October 31, through Friday, November 7,” the agency said, noting that searches could resume if new evidence or information emerged.

Authorities said the weeklong operation involved more than 4,000 volunteer hours focused on the area near the Fish Creek Trailhead, where Dobek’s vehicle had been located. Ground teams, helicopters, drones, airplanes, K-9 units and ATVs were all used in the effort.

Officials added that the search zone had little to no cell service and featured steep, challenging terrain, some of which had been damaged by the 2020 wildfires.

Then, on Nov. 15, the sheriff’s office received a report that a body had been spotted in a hard-to-access area near the Fish Creek Trailhead.

“Community members, family, and friends of missing hunter Devon Dobek were searching the area when they saw what appeared to be a body at the base of a [400-foot] cliff and notified the Sheriff’s Office,” authorities said in an update.

The following day, rope teams and a deputy reached the location and recovered the remains, which were later confirmed to be Dobek.

“Our thoughts are with Devon’s family and friends at this difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said.