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BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (AP) -- Box Elder County officials are considering charging three men for the costs of a search and rescue operation launched when they failed to return from their hunting trip near the Idaho border.
The cost has been estimated at $5,000 to $10,000.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Lynn Yeates said the decision will be made by the sheriff and the county attorney.
The three men, from Tremonton, Corrine and Bear River City, were reported missing at 1 p.m. Monday.
Thirteen search and rescue personnel from the sheriff's office and 11 from Idaho conducted the search about six miles west of Portage.
Rescuers combed the area on ATVs, horseback and on foot until 7 p.m. Monday, Yeates said Tuesday.
A Utah Highway Patrol helicopter continued the search using infrared and thermal imaging until 8:30 p.m., when the search was called off for the night and preparations were made to continue Tuesday, he said.
"As our last group of people left base camp, the three guys showed up," Yeates said.
The three men were not lost, but still were hunting about 15 miles outside of the search area, Yeates said. They did not tell family members where they were hunting, he said.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
