Vancouver elk hunter reported missing in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a Vancouver elk hunter who went missing in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Joel Presler, 37, was hunting in the Forlorn Lakes area of the forest, according to a news release. He last spoke to his family on Saturday.

Deputies found Presler’s 2004 Ford pickup on Wednesday on Forest Road 6035. There are about two feet of snow on the ground near the vehicle, and it doesn’t appear Presler has been in or around his truck in the past couple of days.

According to the sheriff’s office, it’s unlikely he would hike in and camp away from his vehicle.

Presler has hunted around the area for many years and has no known medical issues.

Search operations are headquartered at the junction of Forest Road 24 and Forest Road 60 near the Peterson Prairie campground.

Snowmobile searchers and ground searchers focused on areas around Forlorn Lakes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest northwest of Trout Lake.

Weather conditions have improved some in the area Thursday, but searchers say there is nearly 24 inches of snow in the area Presler’s truck was found.

Search efforts were suspended until this morning.