A man from Encampment, Wyoming, went missing overnight Wednesday while hunting elk in the Medicine Bow National Forest, but was found alive around 3:45 p.m. Thursday.
James Johnson left Wednesday afternoon to hunt in the forest and did not return, says a statement Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken posted to Facebook Thursday morning.
His dad, Jim Johnson, was miserable while waiting for news Thursday, saying all he could do was believe that his son would be found - and trust the Carbon County Search and Rescue team, which he described as "one of the best."
The father was flustered, sitting and "stewing" Thursday morning while waiting for any word of his son. In a follow-up interview Thursday afternoon after the younger James Johnson was found alive, the father was laughing.
"(His wife) said he can't go hunting without adult supervision now," said the elder Johnson with a laugh. "She said he's grounded."
The missing man's son, the Carbon County Search and Rescue and Sheriff's Office personnel, and several volunteers went searching south of Encampment, the father said. Among those volunteers was the lost man's son, he added.
Information was still sparse at 4:30 p.m., but the father said it did not sound like his son was headed to any hospital for emergency care, though he'd heard reports that the son was a little hungry.
"Sounds like he’s doing great," said the father. "Life is good right now."
Cory Nuhn, leader of Encampment’s volunteer search and rescue group, told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that the searchers deployed a helicopter around midday.
The elder Johnson said his daughter-in-law and granddaughter were at his home in Encampment waiting for news with him throughout the day.
The weather near Encampment hit an overnight low Wednesday of 27 degrees Fahrenheit, with some precipitation, according to timeanddate.com.
This story has been updated to reflect that James Johnson was found alive Thursday afternoon.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
