Well, familiar with the area or not, if they follow the basic protocols for a manhunt, they should be able to flush him out. That strategy doesn’t rely on the people using it to be familiar with the area, they just have to stick to the plan.
Still, I don’t see why they can’t use technology like FLIR cameras on helicopters to find him. Perhaps he planned for that and has some heat-reflective gear.
Seems to me that's working out about as well as basic rules of engagement worked against the guerilla warfare tactics of the militia a couple hundred years ago.
They are hunting a man who is also hunting men....that makes a big difference
Digging a hillbilly out of the woods is not ever going to be easy - Especially if he knows the folks thereabouts. I don't think that most folks can grasp how big wilderness is. I don't know about back east, or deciduous forest, but I know here, in the Rockies, and even as decrepit as I am these days, I have every confidence that I could walk off and disappear... If I had to.
As for FLIR, and other tech, mostly that is not useful until you know you have his immediate vicinity. Dogs would do better, though dogs have a hard time on rock and water, so again, they depend upon fairly recent sign.
IF he is still up in there (which I doubt), unless he was previously prepared, what will drive him out is winter. But if it were me, I'd have been where they ain't looking a looong time ago.