GEM COUNTY -- A mystery out of Gem County has authorities still searching for a Caldwell man.
The wife of Brian Pratzner says they were visiting a park when he walked away -- and didn't come back.
"We haven't gotten any indicators of his whereabouts -- no signs," said Lt. Dave Timony of the Gem County Sheriff's Department.
It was Monday night the 38-year-old man went missing.
Nearly 40 people from the county Sheriff's office, its auxiliary force, and other emergency management services have been looking high and low for Pratzner.
Even now, they have no idea where he is.
It was around 7-pm Monday Pratzner was last seen by his wife.
They were hunting for mushrooms in a forest area known as High Valley, about five miles outside of Ola.
“They had stopped here which is a known spot to the wife and husband. Husband had darted off here close by the woods," said Lt. Timony.
While Brian Pratzner stepped out, she reclined in their car with two of their dogs.
An hour later, it got dark and Brian had not returned.
She went to a nearby home to call for help.
"At this point being on foot, he had limited equipment, his outdoor experience is limited as well. All he had on him was a lighter. He had no knife, no coats, no survival equipment going out in the woods other than that lighter," said Lt. Timony.
Pratzner also didn't have any food or water, which concerns search crews.
If he's dehydrated, his chance of getting disoriented and lost goes up.
Searches by air, on foot, with ATVs, and dogs have turned up nothing.
"A lot of this area on the south side is pretty thick and dense with all the rains and everythihg we've had all your growth and undergrowth is real high, so it's kind of a methodical search," said Lt. Timony.
There's a network of roads in the area and officials are hoping he made it out and flagged down a ride.
"He had left his cell phone with his wife. So we're hoping that if he does make it to a house, or a residence or a rancher's phone that he calls her cell phone. We advised her, instructed her to leave a voicemail so if he was to call his phone, he would understand to obviously call the sheriff's office or local law enforcement," said Lt. Timony.
The Gem County Sheriff's Department does not suspect foul play.
Both Brian Pratzner and his wife live in Caldwell.
Those who live in the area are encouraged to keep an eye out for him.
Numerous agencies are assisting in the search for Pratzner including Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, the Gem County ATV Club, Gem County EMS and the Gem County Sheriff's Posse.
