Kalispell hunter reported missing near Wisdom

The Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue began a search on Sunday for a Kalispell man who is overdue from a hunting trip west of Wisdom.

Robert Carter, 53, was expected to return from hunting Sunday night. His wife became concerned earlier when he had not contacted her via cellphone or Facebook since Wednesday night. She reported her concerns to the sheriff’s office Saturday afternoon. Deputies received information Saturday night and early Sunday morning indicating that Carter was hunting in Tie Creek, a few miles west of the Big Hole Battlefield National Park.

Sunday morning, the Beaverhead Search and Rescue Units were activated and operations began. Carter’s campsite was located on Forest Service land on Placer Creek Road. Carter’s truck was located about 5 miles north of that location parked in the forest between Tie Creek and Johnson Creek. Information from other hunters in the area indicated that Carter was bow hunting and had parked his truck early Thursday morning to hunt on foot in the area.

Sunday’s efforts included a 40-square-mile ground search, as well as an air search during daylight by Butte Life Flight and a night search using FLIR Technology by Two Bears Helicopter from Kalispell and T.J. Reynolds of the Dillon Flying Service.