NEW GERMANY - Hampered by freezing temperatures, high winds and blowing snow, a search team failed to find a Cumberland man who was missing from a deer-hunting trip early Saturday in a wilderness area of Garrett County.

Robert Halley Sr., 65, was reported missing about 12:45 a.m. yesterday by his son, said Heather Lynch, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

"He came home from work and realized his dad was not at home," Lynch said.

Halley left his home between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Saturday to hunt in New Germany State Park, Lynch said. His car was found at the park, she said.

A search party of about 15 people - DNR police and park and forest service rangers - began looking for the hunter about 3 a.m. yesterday, Lynch said.

"His son took park and forest rangers to an area where his father always hunts and has been hunting for 22 years," Lynch said.

Halley had not been found as of last night, and as darkness set in, the size of the search team was reduced. But the effort was to be expanded at sunrise today with a larger area to comb, Lynch said.

"It's blowing snow and pretty cold," Lynch said. "I'm told there are about 6 inches of snow."