The Mysterious Disappearance of Aaron Hedges: Montana's Haunting Missing 411 Case
In September 2014, Aaron Hedges, an experienced 38-year-old outdoorsman from Bozeman, Montana, embarked on what should have been a routine hunting expedition with his friends Joe and Greg. The trio planned a five-day elk hunting trip in Montana's isolated Crazy Mountains, an island range known for its natural beauty and unique checkerboard pattern of federal and private land ownership. Despite Hedges' extensive outdoor skills and familiarity with the local terrain, this journey would take an unexpected turn.
The Crazy Mountains, located about 75 minutes northeast of Bozeman, have a rich and mysterious history reflected in their unusual name. Various origin stories exist, including tales of a settler woman driven to madness after witnessing her family's massacre, and accounts of Chief Plenty Coos experiencing prophetic visions that settlers misinterpreted as "crazy." This remote wilderness, with peaks reaching 10,000 feet, falls under split jurisdiction between Sweetgrass and Park County Sheriff's Departments, creating a complex backdrop for the events that would unfold during the hunting trip.
Key Takeaways
An experienced hunter named Aaron Hedges disappeared during a planned five-day elk hunting expedition in Montana's remote Crazy Mountains.
The Crazy Mountains feature a unique arrangement of alternating federal and private land ownership, creating jurisdictional complexity in the wilderness area.
The mountain range's unusual name stems from historical misunderstandings between settlers and indigenous peoples regarding vision quests and other cultural practices.
Mysterious Disappearance in Montana's Wilderness
The Vanishing of Aaron Hedges
Aaron Hedges, a 38-year-old Bozeman resident, was an experienced outdoorsman who frequently spent his weekends hunting in Montana's mountains and prairies. His extensive knowledge of the local terrain made him well-equipped for wilderness excursions. Like many residents of Gallatin County, hunting was a significant part of his lifestyle.
On September 5, 2014, Hedges embarked on what was intended to be a five-day elk hunting expedition in the Crazy Mountains with his friends Joe and Greg. The trio planned to set up camp on Friday and return home the following Wednesday, September 10th. Their goal was straightforward—to harvest an elk or two, which would provide meat through the winter months.
The Crazy Mountains, located approximately 75 minutes northeast of Bozeman, presented a unique landscape for their hunting trip. This isolated mountain range features 10,000-foot peaks and abundant wildlife, including the elk they sought. The area's distinctive "checkerboard" land ownership pattern—alternating between federal land and private ranches dating back to the 1800s—would later complicate search efforts.
Hunting Trip Gone Wrong
Bozeman, home to over 53,000 people according to the 2020 census, serves as the seat of Gallatin County where hunting remains a popular activity. When Hedges and his companions ventured into the wilderness, the weather in Bozeman was relatively mild, though mountain conditions are typically more severe.
The Crazy Mountains derive their unusual name from various local legends. One account involves a settler woman who reportedly went mad after witnessing her family's massacre by Native Americans in the 1840s, fleeing into the mountains. Another more credible origin relates to Chief Plenty Coos of the Crow tribe, who experienced a vision quest in these mountains. Settlers, unfamiliar with this spiritual practice, misinterpreted it as "crazy" or delusional behavior.
The wilderness area where the men were hunting spans two jurisdictions—Sweetgrass County and Park County Sheriff's Departments—with additional oversight from the Gallatin National Forest Service. The region hosts diverse wildlife including:
Elk
Mule deer
White-tailed deer
Black bears
Small wolf populations
Despite Hedges' considerable outdoor experience and local knowledge, the hunting trip would not proceed as planned, setting the stage for one of Montana's most puzzling wilderness disappearances.
Peculiar Wilderness Disappearance
Mountain Mysteries
The Crazy Mountains of Montana stand apart from the Rockies as an isolated range known for their dramatic beauty and unusual land ownership patterns. This remote wilderness area features a distinctive checkerboard arrangement where federal lands intermingle with private ranches dating back to the 1800s. Rising to elevations of 10,000 feet, the mountains straddle both Sweetgrass and Park Counties while falling partially within Gallatin National Forest.
Wildlife thrives throughout the range, with hunters regularly pursuing elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Black bears roam the forests, and a small wolf population maintains territory in the more isolated sections. Local ranch owners have noted the gradual expansion of predator territories, suggesting larger predators may eventually move into the ecosystem.
Hunting Trip Gone Wrong
In September 2014, a 38-year-old Bozeman resident named Aaron Hedges embarked on what should have been a routine hunting excursion. Accompanied by two friends, Joe and Greg, Hedges planned a five-day elk hunting trip into the Crazy Mountains, scheduled from September 5th to September 10th.
Despite being an experienced outdoorsman with intimate knowledge of the Montana wilderness, particularly the areas surrounding his Gallatin County home, Hedges would face unexpected circumstances in the isolated mountain range. The trio established their base camp with plans to hunt elk throughout the surrounding territory, aiming to secure one or two animals before returning home the following Wednesday.
The hunting party selected this remote location approximately 75 minutes northeast of Bozeman, drawn by its reputation for abundant wildlife and challenging terrain. For skilled hunters like Hedges, who regularly spent weekends pursuing game across Montana's diverse landscapes, the Crazy Mountains represented familiar territory where his extensive outdoor experience should have served him well.
The administrative complexity of the region, with its patchwork of jurisdictions split between multiple government agencies and private landholders, would later complicate matters as questions arose about exactly what happened during those fateful September days in this aptly-named mountain wilderness.
Bozeman and Surrounding Area
Population and Way of Life
Bozeman, Montana serves as the county seat of Gallatin County in southwestern Montana. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the city has approximately 53,300 residents. The area attracts outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate its natural beauty and recreational opportunities.
Hunting represents a significant cultural activity for residents of Gallatin County and nearby communities. Local hunters pursue various game including elk, deer, and other wildlife throughout the surrounding mountain ranges. Many residents, like Aaron Hedges, spend weekends exploring the mountains and prairies in search of wild game.
The region features a unique land ownership pattern, particularly in the Crazy Mountains, where federal and private lands create a checkerboard arrangement. Many family ranches established in the 1800s remain privately owned, while alternate sections belong to federal entities like Gallatin National Forest.
Cultural and Historical Background
The Crazy Mountains, located about 75 minutes northeast of Bozeman, carry a rich historical significance with several origin stories explaining their unusual name. These mountains rise to 10,000 feet and stand as an isolated range separate from the main Rocky Mountains.
Two primary legends explain the mountains' distinctive name:
The Morgan Family Story:
Settlers who stopped near the mountains in 1846
Family allegedly attacked by Blackfoot warriors
Mrs. Morgan reportedly fled into the mountains "crazy" with grief
Mountains subsequently named "Crazy Woman Mountains"
Chief Plenty Coos Story (more historically probable):
Crow chieftain (Siouan language group) had vision quests in the mountains
Experienced prophetic visions about future settler colonization
European settlers misinterpreted the spiritual practice as "craziness"
Name evolved to "Crazy Mountains"
The mountains serve as habitat for diverse wildlife including:
Elk
Mule deer
White-tailed deer
Black bears
Small wolf population
Local ranch owner Jack Ryan notes that while grizzly bears haven't established themselves in the area yet, their arrival appears imminent as their range expands throughout the region.
The Disappearance of Aaron Hedges
In September 2014, Aaron Hedges, a 38-year-old experienced outdoorsman from Bozeman, Montana, embarked on what should have been a routine hunting expedition. Accompanied by his friends Joe and Greg, Hedges planned a five-day elk hunting trip in the isolated Crazy Mountains, located about 75 minutes northeast of Bozeman.
The trio set out on September 5th with intentions to hunt until September 10th. Their goal was modest—to secure enough elk meat to last through the winter. As a lifelong hunter and skilled wilderness navigator, Hedges seemed well-prepared for the journey.
The Crazy Mountains, often simply called "the Crazies," stand as an isolated range separate from the Rockies. They feature 10,000-foot peaks and a unique checkerboard pattern of land ownership, with alternating squares of federal forest and private ranch land dating back to the 1800s. This distinctive arrangement creates a jurisdictional maze split between two county sheriff's departments and the Forest Service.
Several origin stories explain the mountains' unusual name. One folklore version involves a settler woman who allegedly went insane after Blackfoot raiders attacked her family in 1846. Another more plausible account relates to Chief Plenty Coos of the Crow tribe, who experienced a prophetic vision quest in these mountains. Settlers, unfamiliar with the concept of spiritual visions, misinterpreted these accounts as tales of madness or hallucination.
The Crazies' ecosystem supports diverse wildlife, including:
Elk
Mule deer
White-tailed deer
Black bears
A small wolf population
Although the weather in Bozeman had been mild when the hunting party departed, conditions in the mountains can change dramatically with elevation. This environmental unpredictability would prove significant in the events that followed.
For Aaron Hedges, what began as a familiar hunting trip would become a mysterious disappearance that raised more questions than answers.
Origins of the Crazy Mountains' Unusual Name
The Crazy Mountains derive their unusual name from various stories that have circulated since the 1800s. One tale describes a settler woman who fled into the mountains after witnessing Native American raiders kill her family. She reportedly survived for weeks, supplied by locals, but gradually lost her sanity, leading to the name "Crazy Woman Mountains."
A more credible origin involves Chief Plenty Coos of the Crow tribe. The chief embarked on a four-day vision quest in these mountains, where he foresaw the arrival of white settlers and the replacement of buffalo with cattle. When settlers later arrived, they misinterpreted the local descriptions of vision quests as hallucinations or insanity, dubbing the range the "Crazy Mountains."
Other theories suggest the mountains served as a refuge for those with mental illness among Native American tribes. The name stands in stark contrast to other American mountain ranges like the Rockies or Appalachians, which typically derive from descriptive features or tribal names.
The mountains feature a unique checkerboard pattern of land ownership, with alternating squares of federal and private property. These 10,000-foot peaks fall under the jurisdiction of two county sheriff's departments and the Forest Service.
Local ranch owner Jack Ryan has noted the absence of grizzly bears in the area but ominously predicted their eventual arrival. Given the region's connection to Algonquin peoples—who share cultural ties with tribes known for wendigo legends—some speculate about supernatural presences in these remote mountains.
This isolated mountain range stands separate from the Rockies, featuring stunning natural beauty that has captivated visitors since the 1800s. The mountains continue to attract hunters and outdoor enthusiasts from nearby Bozeman and surrounding communities.
