Missing Post Falls hunter found safe

A Post Falls man was found safe Saturday morning after spending the night in his vehicle when it became stuck in the snow on a hunting trip.

Michael E. Horrocks, 65, was reported overdue about midnight Friday when he didn't return home from hunting in the Coeur d'Alene River area.

Kootenai County and Shoshone County deputies searched several locations in both counties with no success, according to a press release.

"Due to the lack of information on where Horrocks could have been hunting, a full search and rescue response was not conducted," the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department release said.

By 9 a.m. Saturday, thanks to phone calls from Horrocks and assistance from the Civil Air Patrol, the search was narrowed to the Laverne Saddle area.

Horrocks was found about noon walking on Forest Service Road 796. He was not injured and did not require medical assistance, the release said.

He told searchers he had driven to Laverne Saddle when his vehicle got stuck in more than two feet of snow. Horrocks, who was dressed and prepared for winter conditions, said he stayed with his vehicle throughout the night.

When it was daylight, he said he began walking out of the woods on the road until he was found by searchers.

The search party included members of the KCSD, the Forest Service and Kootenai County Search and Rescue.