Charles Duane Gustafson, a 72-year-old man from Minnesota, was last seen on October 11, 2006, while elk hunting with family members in the Medicine Bow National Forest, near Arlington, Wyoming. The group had split up to hunt in different directions, and Gustafson was supposed to return to camp that evening but never arrived. When his family realized he was missing, they fired three shots into the air and heard three shots fired back, but were unable to locate him.
Gustafson had already become disoriented once during the trip, getting lost the day before but being found by a logger. Despite extensive search efforts involving law enforcement, search dogs, and helicopters, no trace of him was found. The search was hindered by temperatures dropping into the 30s and snowy conditions over the following days. At the time of his disappearance, he was carrying hunting gear, including a Winchester 30-06 rifle, and supplies like a map, GPS, and water. Gustafson was in good health, had wilderness survival training from his time in the Air Force, and had hunted in the area for over a decade. However, he was known to occasionally suffer from mental disorientation.
Despite the extensive search efforts and his family's confidence in his survival skills, Gustafson's whereabouts remain unknown. The case is still classified as a "lost/injured missing" case, and investigators have not found any new leads since his disappearance.Last Seen: Oct 11, 2006
