Two young hunters from out of state have been found dead in the remote wilderness of southern Colorado, just over a week after they vanished on an elk hunting trip. Andrew Porter, 25, from Asheville, North Carolina, and Ian Stasko, 25, from Salt Lake City, Utah, lost contact on September 11 while exploring Colorado’s rugged Game Management Unit 81, a wild area near the New Mexico border filled with steep ridgelines and thick timber.
Search and rescue teams from Colorado spotted their bodies around 11 a.m. on Thursday, about two miles from the Rio de los Pinos trailhead in the national forest. The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the discovery, and early reports from a coroner show no obvious signs of trauma on the remains. Officials haven’t determined the exact cause of death yet, but family members suspect severe storms that rolled through the area caught the men off guard.
Porter’s aunt, Lynne Runkle, shared the heartbreaking news on a GoFundMe page set up to support the search efforts. “It is with a broken heart and through tears that I give you this update,” she wrote. “Andrew and Ian have both been found deceased. Their bodies were discovered earlier today by Colorado Search and Rescue. I will provide another update tomorrow. Please keep Andrew’s and Ian’s families in your thoughts and prayers.”
The intensive hunt for the missing elk hunters involved ground teams and air support over several days. Porter’s fiancée, Bridget Murphy, stayed in close touch with authorities and shared updates on social media. She last heard from him via a satellite device after 3 p.m. on September 11, when it pinged near his car at the trailhead.
Murphy told reporters she thinks the pair briefly returned to the vehicle to change out of wet clothes—deputies found gear suggesting that—before heading back into the woods. Hunting equipment was missing from the car, pointing to them venturing out again. Both men were experienced outdoorsmen, the kind who built shelters in the woods for fun since they were kids.
A confirmed sighting added some hope before the storms hit. On Friday morning, someone spotted them at the nearby Spruce Hole trailhead with their car. Porter and Stasko mentioned seeing a bull moose and planned to track it down. Later, they moved the car back to Rio de los Pinos, which Murphy said meant they were safe at least through that extra night.
As the search dragged on, Murphy posted emotional pleas online: “Thank you all. Say a prayer, God wrap your arms around them and keep them safe, help us find them.” The tragedy highlights the dangers of hunting in Colorado’s unpredictable backcountry, where sudden weather changes can turn a routine trip deadly. Families and friends continue to mourn the loss of these two adventurous friends.
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