ELLENBURG CENTER – A Vermont man who had been missing for more than a week was found dead Sunday morning on the eighth day of a massive search for him.

The body of Ira Munn Boardman, 58, of South Hero, Vermont, was located at 10:15 a.m. about a mile northeast of his hunting camp, according to a statement from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The discovery was made by a ground crew that included a DEC forest ranger and friends of Boardman’s family.

“While initial observations by rangers do not indicate foul play, state police are continuing the investigation of this incident,” the statement said.

Boardman’s body has been transported to Albany Medical Center for an autopsy, DEC Forest Ranger Capt. John Streiff told the Burlington Free Press.

Streiff said the Boardman family told him this is a “bittersweet” ending but they are relieved to have closure, according to the Free Press.

Boardman was reported missing last Saturday, Nov. 19, when he didn’t return to his camp. Since then, hundreds of search and rescue volunteers, firefighters and law enforcement officers have been involved in the search, which was hindered by harsh weather and heavy snowfall early in the week.

“During this unfortunate and challenging incident, the cooperation between the family, friends and responding agencies was outstanding,” DEC’s statement reads. “Search volunteers donated over 6,000 hours of their time with friends and family coming from all over the country. Search techniques included grid searching, K-9, aviation and water teams resulting in over 2,500 acres being searched in a 16-square-mile area.

“The Boardman family thanked DEC forest rangers and all volunteers for their the outpouring of support and kindness during this difficult time.”

More than 30 agencies were involved including DEC forest rangers, state police, Ellenburg Center Fire Department, Clinton County Sheriff’s Special Response Team, Clinton County Office of Emergency Management, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, U.S. Border Patrol, the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, state Park Police, the state Office of Interoperability and Emergency Communications, the New York State Federation of Search and Rescue Teams, Stowe Mountain Rescue and the American Red Cross. In addition, over 16 fire departments from Clinton, Franklin and Essex counties provided support in the search efforts.