Elk hunters find missing La Pine man’s body near Davis Lake

Elk hunters near Davis Lake have found the remains of a 61-year-old La Pine man who disappeared in early September, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Monday, adding that foul play was not suspected.

The elk hunters contacted Deschutes County dispatchers around 2:25 p.m. on Sunday to report what they had found, said Lt. Chad Davis.

A U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer was the first law enforcement responder to arrive, followed a short time later by a sheriff’s detective and a special services unit deputy, Davis said.

Based on evidence at the scene, the remains were positively identified as Gary Lynn Hubbard, who was reported missing on Sept. 10, Davis said.

His body was found about 3/4 of a mile from where his Ford Explorer was found on Sept. 16.

Humbard’s family has been notified, the lieutenant added.

The special services unit and sheriff’s office Search and Rescue volunteers logged more than 350 hours searching for Hubbard after his SUV was found near the lake. They included teams on horseback and ATVs, as well as unmanned aerial system (drone) teams and K-9’s from Deschutes and Crook County and Mountain Wave Search and Rescue,

Davis said the sheriff’s office “would like to thank the citizens who contacted the sheriff’s office regarding this investigation. The information provided by the public was vital in resolving this case.”