The body of a 25-year-old lion hunter was recovered Sunday from the Rock Creek Canyon area of Carbon County.
According to a news release from the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, Zach Clement was hunting mountain lions with family members on Saturday when he slipped about 11 a.m. and fell approximately 50 feet off of a ledge into the bottom of Rock Canyon, which is near Spradling Springs in Carbon County. Sheriff’s Detective Wally Hendricks says the accident happened in a very steep and rugged area and there was snow on the ground at the time.
Members of Clement’s hunting party hiked for nearly two hours before they could get cell phone service to call for help. Carbon County’s search and rescue team responded to the call but was unable to recover Zach Clement’s body due to darkness and rugged terrain.
On Sunday, Carbon County personnel, assisted by Emery County Search and Rescue crews, the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Department of Public Safety helicopter were able to recover Clement’s body. Crews also used snowmobiles, a snow-cat from the Nutter Ranch, and the Carbon County Search and Rescue snow-cat in the recovery effort.
Detective Hendricks said Clement was an Emery County native, and had been residing in Mona, Utah.
The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy as a matter of protocol. There was no indication of foul play.
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