Search continues in wildlife area for wounded hunter

WEST FARMINGTON— Using helicopters and dogs, local law enforcement agencies scoured the Grand River Wildlife area Thursday night, searching for a wounded hunter.

At 8 p.m., Trumbull County 911 was informed that Darrell Bontrager, age and address unknown, had accidentally shot himself while hunting alone in the 6,000-acre area maintained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

By 10:30 p.m. fire departments from Bristol, Farmington, Mesopotamia and Mecca had still not found Bontrager. Reports indicated he had built a small fire, but authorities feared the effects of exposure or uncontrolled bleeding.

Low fuel levels forced the helicopter that had been assisting with the search to return to its base. A dog team from Mecca was enroute to the site.

By 11 p.m., Bontrager had not been found.