Lost rifle: NE Oregon Snake Rvr Unit

[Hunt'nFish]

Anyone heard about a lost rifle found up at Warnock Corrals in Snake Rvr?
Not me BTW.
Hunt'nFish

[ElkMaster78]

I talked to the guy that lost it up there. He stopped by our camp, what a bummer deal. Hope he gets it back.
Tony

[gweedo#1]

How do you loose your rifle???

[ElkMaster78]

When I talked to him he said that he took it out of his scabbard on his horse and set it down. Then put the horse in the trailer and drove away. Didn't think about it til the next morning from the sounds of things. Sad deal.
Tony

[ORsouthpaw]

Originally Posted by gweedo#1

How do you loose your rifle???

I'm with qweedo on this one. I could see forgeting a magazine, a cover for your scope, your bino's or your knife but not your rifle. Still I hope he gets back.

[Hunt'nFish]

Yep Tony, that'd be my Bro.

Here's the story....
My brother Ken leaned it up against the stock trailer on the fender and began unpacking the mules. He had his Father-in-law and a couple buddies with him and they are not horse guys, so he was pretty much doing all the work and had many things on his mind. Needless to say it wasn't until they got down off the mountain that the rifle was noticed missing, and yep they did an OMG! Went back to see if it was still there. Nope, but evidently he could see where it had fallen off. But no rifle.

He's bummed. Simply because he bought the rifle....well I actually got it for him, while he was laid up in the hospital in mcMinnville after a logging accident down here in the coast range. It almost took his life & leg. Compound fracture that left his leg paralyzed from the knee down. Some good surgeon work and several operations involving screws, etc saved the leg but not the nerves. Depression was a hard thing for him. If not for me kidnapping him and taking him up in the hills behind McMinnville to shoot the Mini14's and get his new rifle dialed, I fear he might have done something stupid. Between the meds he was on and the simple fact that he might never do what he loves again, he was talking some crazy talk. Figured the best therapy was.....well the woods, where he loves to be. He'd always talked about his dream rifle...so I told him he should get one. So one Saturday we hit the Expo show & picked one up. Getting it all setup, reloads worked up for it, and finally getting it dialed in seemed to keep his head screwed on straight. I'd joke with him that well, if you can't run them down like before..you'll just have to let your bullet do the running for ya.
So as you can see that rifle means more to him that just some $$ and steel. We call the rifle GOD, as he has never missed with it. (I can't tell you how many deer, elk & coyotes "GOD" has passed judgement on.)

I have the original box for rifle & scope and complete S/N #'s for both.
We had hoped that someone would mention it on here, but no dice.
Now, all I can do is mention it and hope someone knows something or has seen an ad in the paper or something.
It is a very expensive setup, so I doubt he'll ever see it again.
He doesn't feel like he should have to post a reward, but I am prepared to make it worth their while.
Maybe not in cash, but for folks with knowledge of that country & the mules to get in/out I'm sure we can work something out.
It would just be very cool to get it back to him. He was so bummed & depressed about his goof up when he called & told me.
Mike Knifong
Hunt'nFish

[No Fences]

Bummer deal. I can see how this could happen, especially these days with all that is on our minds. Hope he gets it back.

[WSU]

It is really easy to do. I ran over my shotgun after leaning it on my truck and BSing with a friend who happened to drive by when I was getting back. Talked for 30 minutes, got in the truck, and started to drive off when I heard a crunch. I know immediately what I had done and now have a bent rib to show for it. I would have driven off if I had not heard the crunch.

That story is a real bummer, hope he gets it back.

[Hunt'nFish]

Zumwalt....as I know you'll see this. Don't give him too hard a time. He's bummed enough.

Shaymann, did you hear anything?? Probably should also call Shawn & Shelley. They might've come out that way. But if their rigs were still there I think he'd have noticed.
Hunt'nFish

[motcha]

Dang tough deal, I am sirry to hear of this bad luck. I actually forgot my rifle on year, and it was the longest hour of my life driving back!! But it was there... thank goodness. I hope all turns out well, there are still some good people out there

[llama77]

Keep spreading the word. There are good folks out there. I lost my rangefinder out past warnocks. Had my number on it. I got a call from a guy that found it and he sent it back.

Sent him a thank you and a nice little reward.

Good luck, ask around everyone, somebody knows somebody that kows who found it.

[ORsouthpaw]

The sad thing is the location it could just as easily have been picked up by some one from Idaho. I would at least contact the IDFW and ID State Police to let them know.

[CombinationLicense]

What a bummer Hunt'nFish! Sorry to hear about the loss of such a significant piece. I agree with what some others have said - spread the word and hope that some decent person knows who found it. I've heard a few other "lost gun" stories over the years so it happens from time to time. Hopefully your brother won't beat himself up to bad over it.

"CL"

[GDuck]

A rifle can be entered into NCIC by OSP and will stay there indefinitely. They can and DO show up YEARS later. If this was a controlled hunt, do a public records request from ODFW of everyone who has the tag and mail a flyer out with a reward and a paragraph advising OSP was notified the weapon was lost/stolen, you'd appreciate it back, anyone found with it is in possession of stolen property and will be charged. The finder by law must turn it in, if no one claims it in a certain amount of time the finder gets it. Anyone found with this weapon after the report is filed outside of a reasonable amount of time (like driving time to OSP office) can be charged.

Good luck,

G

[No Fences]

Originally Posted by GDuck

A rifle can be entered into NCIC by OSP and will stay there indefinitely. They can and DO show up YEARS later. If this was a controlled hunt, do a public records request from ODFW of everyone who has the tag and mail a flyer out with a reward and a paragraph advising OSP was notified the weapon was lost/stolen, you'd appreciate it back, anyone found with it is in possession of stolen property and will be charged. The finder by law must turn it in, if no one claims it in a certain amount of time the finder gets it. Anyone found with this weapon after the report is filed outside of a reasonable amount of time (like driving time to OSP office) can be charged.

Good luck,

G

Good advice.

[Oregon-Jet]

What kind of rifle and caliber and scope? I live in the area and will keep an eye out.

[bignate]

Thats a real bummer. Keep at it, my buddies grandfathers 308 was stolen and showed back up on radar 23 years later. He now has it and gets the pleasure of hunting with it.



nate

[Ildor]

I seriously doubt this is it but I'd be calling:

http://boise.craigslist.org/laf/895325901.html

In case the ad gets flagged (happens all the time on craigslist when the ad involves firearms) the phone # is 208-739-1006.

[beardbuster]

You can do a postcard and mail it out to the tag holders that were in the area at the time. A friend of mine just bought a list of names from ODFW and I created a promotional card for his business. I am sure you can purchase just the Successful Tag Holders for a specific unit.

If this is something you want to do. PM me and we'll talk, I am well versed in the mailing and the design end of things. It may cost you a couple hundreds bucks for printing and bulk mail, but if it means getting the gun back to your brother

[Johnandhis4x4]

I hope your Bro gets the rifle back. Shame to loose something with that much personal value.

[jnicholson]

Oh yea. It can happen. Rifles, binoculars, range finder, shooting sticks.

[Hunt'nFish]

Idor, the Idaho craigslist rifle is not ours.

Gduck, that had crossed my mind, but not sure how I feel about reporting something stolen when it was in reality lost. Big differance in my mind. I'm not sure I want to screw someone over with a Stolen Firearms flag on a NICS check. But like I said, it had crossed my mind.
Unfortunately Brother didn't see fit to put his name & phone # on it anywhere.

Hint: I always include my name & # info on my ballistics data. But I suppose writing your name & # on the inside of the scope caps might also do. Never been one for engraving SSN or name on the rifle. I sell them on occasion and won't buy one that has been engraved.

If he had, and no one called to return it, I might be more inclined to report it as stolen. In my mind keeping something you know belongs to another person that you can contact, but don't, is in principal stealing. But simply keeping something found w/o such ownership info falls more into the "Your loss, my gain" territory. Sure to many of us it still wouldn't feel right, but to another person maybe not so.

Perhaps this subject is best pulled out of this thread and posted as a new Ethic's Poll?

Wil, Matt, and others...We may have to talk about the ODFW Mailing list for that Unit. That is a good idea. Certainly would get ownership info in front of ALL the right folks.

Please forgive me if I don't post details about the rifle publicly. I'm sure you understand.
The search continues,
Hunt'nFish

[Chesapeake]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Idor, the Idaho craigslist rifle is not ours.

Gduck, that had crossed my mind, but not sure how I feel about reporting something stolen when it was in reality lost. Big differance in my mind. I'm not sure I want to screw someone over with a Stolen Firearms flag on a NICS check. But like I said, it had crossed my mind.
Unfortunately Brother didn't see fit to put his name & phone # on it anywhere.

Hint: I always include my name & # info on my ballistics data. But I suppose writing your name & # on the inside of the scope caps might also do. Never been one for engraving SSN or name on the rifle. I sell them on occasion and won't buy one that has been engraved.

If he had, and no one called to return it, I might be more inclined to report it as stolen. In my mind keeping something you know belongs to another person that you can contact, but don't, is in principal stealing. But simply keeping something found w/o such ownership info falls more into the "Your loss, my gain" territory. Sure to many of us it still wouldn't feel right, but to another person maybe not so.

Perhaps this subject is best pulled out of this thread and posted as a new Ethic's Poll?

Wil, Matt, and others...We may have to talk about the ODFW Mailing list for that Unit. That is a good idea. Certainly would get ownership info in front of ALL the right folks.

Please forgive me if I don't post details about the rifle publicly. I'm sure you understand.
The search continues,
Hunt'nFish

I dont agree with you on the "your loss, my gain" part. If you find something that someone left or lost you either need to leave it be, the owner will likely return for it, or make every effort to get it back to the owner. Being a rifle on the side of a road I wouldnt expect a guy to leave it be, but I would expect it to be turned into the nearest police station as lost and found.

Thieves are folks that prescribe to the "your loss, my gain" way of thinking, and they just take it further and further.

[Hunt'nFish]

Ok, a call to OSP Firearms ID Dept down in Salem yeilded this.....

If you Loose a firearm....you are asked to report it to your local LE Dept (City, County, or State). They enter it into their data base as "Lost" and it shows up on the State Data base as well.

If you Find a lost firearm....you are asked to report it to your local LE Dept (City, County, or State). They enter it into their data base as "Found" and it shows up on the State Data base as well.

It is only when both parties do thier part that the connection is made.
So it seems we need to do our part and hope for the best.
Like it was said before.....may take years. And then I'm not sure what will happen.
Hunt'nFish

[Oregon-Jet]

Originally Posted by Oregon-Jet

What kind of rifle and caliber and scope? I live in the area and will keep an eye out.

What kind is it??????????????????????????????????

[The Overfishin Condition]

Sorry about the loss.

I would have probably taken the rifle, and left a note at the place I found it saying I had found it and the person could call to identify. I would've posted on craigslist, and informed the local authorities I had found it. If you turn it in, or leave it it probably just falls into the next set of hands that may or may not make the attempt I woudl to return it to its original owner.

Originally Posted by Chesapeake

I dont agree with you on the "your loss, my gain" part. If you find something that someone left or lost you either need to leave it be, the owner will likely return for it, or make every effort to get it back to the owner. Being a rifle on the side of a road I wouldnt expect a guy to leave it be, but I would expect it to be turned into the nearest police station as lost and found.

Thieves are folks that prescribe to the "your loss, my gain" way of thinking, and they just take it further and further.

[beardbuster]

Originally Posted by The Overfishin Condition

Sorry about the loss.

I would have probably taken the rifle, and left a note at the place I found it saying I had found it and the person could call to identify. I would've posted on craigslist, and informed the local authorities I had found it. If you turn it in, or leave it it probably just falls into the next set of hands that may or may not make the attempt I woudl to return it to its original owner.

Ditto. I also would have left a business card with a not saying that I found a rifle to call and identify it. I know if I lost a gun that someone would consider doing the same for me.

I think if you do the postcard thing, you may find this rifle.

[Catch 22]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

But simply keeping something found w/o such ownership info falls more into the "Your loss, my gain" territory.
Hunt'nFish

Please tell me I'm misunderstanding you. So, you think a person finding something that's not theirs and keeping it is OK? Because it wasn't engraved with a phone #, it's fair game?

I'm not trying to kick you while you're down. I just don't understand how you can feel this way. It has a serial #. That is the ownership info.

BTW, I have photos of all my firearms and closeups of the serial #s as well as having them written down.

[Catch 22]

Originally Posted by Oregon-Jet

What kind is it??????????????????????????????????

I'm sure they are keeping that info private so they can describe the rifle to anyone with an ad for a found rifle.

[James in Idaho]

Are there any sporting goods stores in the area? How 'bout places where hunters tend to eat? Post a notice, can't hurt. I pulled a Sage flyrod out of the Southfork this summer, and managed to get it back to the owner through a local fly shop. Oh yeah, how about an add in the local nickel adds?

[Hunt'nFish]

Originally Posted by Catch 22

Please tell me I'm misunderstanding you. So, you think a person finding something that's not theirs and keeping it is OK? Because it wasn't engraved with a phone #, it's fair game?

I'm not trying to kick you while you're down. I just don't understand how you can feel this way. It has a serial #. That is the ownership info.

BTW, I have photos of all my firearms and closeups of the serial #s as well as having them written down.

Me, no. But the reality is others in the hunting public would.
We here at IFish are not your typical people. There are many other hunters out there that could give a rip about the next guy. Not the case w/ us here. So it doesn't matter what I think or we think here.....what matters is what the rest of the hunting public thinks and would do. Anonymity brings out the worst in people, that's reality. Right or wrong. I'm a realist. Honest folks do dishonest things all the time. Why? because it was simply too easy and they didn't think anybody would ever find out. The mere lack of ownership information on the item is reason enough in their mind to keep it. We have a conscience, morals & ethics prohibit us from doing many things...not so with many others.

It all comes back to the old saying, "Locks just keep honest people honest".

A guy pulls in behind me at a Weyerhouser Gate and parks to hunt. Walks past my truck, see's a pair of Stiners on the dash, sees it locked. What do you think he'll do?
Next day same guy walks past, sees the Steiners, sees the doors are unlocked.....hummm, what do you think is going to happen?

Now, this time it's a high dollar rifle laying along side the road. No one around. No owner info on the rifle at all. It's a hell of a lot better rifle than yours. Hummmm.......Do you turn it in as "Found" at the local LE Office and leave your contact info......or maybe you should just "hold" onto it, just in case.......the typical mind will rationalize it in their favor.

I agree with you. But I'm a realist. I realize not everybody out there is as honest as we are here.
Hunt'nFish

[fishboys]

If its not found I would be willing to put some cash into a kitty to help soften the blow for a replacement.

[No Fences]

Originally Posted by fishboys

If its not found I would be willing to put some cash into a kitty to help soften the blow for a replacement.

See, that's what Ifish is about. I don't have much to give right now, but I'm sure I could chip in a few. I would be more than happy to do so.

[beardbuster]

Ditto...

[GDuck]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Ok, a call to OSP Firearms ID Dept down in Salem yeilded this.....

If you Loose a firearm....you are asked to report it to your local LE Dept (City, County, or State). They enter it into their data base as "Lost" and it shows up on the State Data base as well.

If you Find a lost firearm....you are asked to report it to your local LE Dept (City, County, or State). They enter it into their data base as "Found" and it shows up on the State Data base as well.

It is only when both parties do thier part that the connection is made.
So it seems we need to do our part and hope for the best.
Like it was said before.....may take years. And then I'm not sure what will happen.
Hunt'nFish

HNF,

Please do not misunderstand, this isn't about jamming someone up. A report of LOST/STOLEN firearm should be made to OSP as you found for yourself. The mere fact that Jethro hasn't turned the gun in by now indicates he is considering keeping it. Under Oregon law, that is illegal. And I disagree about both parties doing their part. Your brother does his part, and what if the gun shows up at a gunshow being sold? Serial number gets ran, surprise you get the gun back! We catch a guy trying to offload some guns, that gun is in there, brother gets it back. There are a multitude of ways that gun will show up, but ONLY if your brother files a police report, and the serial number by the way not only is entered into Oregon's LEDS system it goes into NCIC so it will be checked nationally if it turns up say over in Idaho.

A final word of wisdom, take it or leave it: if he has insurance that would cover this, think twice about filing a claim IF the gun is expensive and or has sentimental value. In most cases insurance will pay a minimal amount for a gun that is ludicrous. You take that money, the gun gets recovered, the insurance company now owns the gun......whether you can buy it back is completely between you and the ins company. See where I am headed with that?


G

[Hunt'nFish]

Thanks guys, your all so kind...but the $$'s are not important to him.
He can buy another and has others to use. It's THE RIFLE rifle that's important to him.
In many ways it represents a portion of his life when things were grim, can you place a value on that? Nope.
But your thoughts do mean something to him.

I haven't told him that I was posting this up. He might even be a little argry w/ me for doing it.
But all I can do is try & get his old friend back to him. That's what brothers do, right?
He doesn't understand the power of IFish, he kinda thinks all this internet chat stuff is kinda a stupid waste of time. I don't think so. The IFish circle runs very wide, who knows what's possible.

Someone lurking out there may know something. Like I said before, we can make it worth your while.
Give me a call, pager# in my profile.
Hunt'nFish

[Linejerk]

I would be willing to put money in a pot for a reward if it will help.

[salmonfisher77]

Originally Posted by Linejerk

I would be willing to put money in a pot for a reward if it will help.

[Mad Mikey]

I know it's a long shot Mike, but if you like, PM me the info on the gun and I'll get it to Les at the OR Trail Trader in case it happens to show up at his shop. Either that or call him yourself, a lot of guns go in and out of there. I guarantee you if he knew he had someone trying to pawn a stolen gun he'd stall em' long enough to get the cops down there.

Might do a heads up to other gun brokers in the area too.

That sucks. I've done it once, actually left a shotgun and a bag of decoys by the road when I was a teenager. I remembered at 3AM, luckily it had been untouched.

I hope he gets his gun back.

[Oregon-Jet]

Originally Posted by Catch 22

I'm sure they are keeping that info private so they can describe the rifle to anyone with an ad for a found rifle.

Fair enough, he has theoriginal box for rifle & scope and complete S/N #'s for both,it does not matter if he has the SN thats all that is needed for the ID
I deal in and around firearms here and see 30-50 a month pass through the area, Guess I wont know what to look for.
BTW the Elgin gunshow just went through here could have been taken there, I dont miss a show in E Oregon.
also if you put your contact info on an index card cut down and seal it to fit under the butt pad you never have to worry about IDing tell the police where it is and they give it right over to you.been there done that.

[Critter Getter]

Without checking and listing the gun with the police how would you know if someone hasn't already reported the find and are waiting for your report to return it to you. There are more honest people out there than you might think . You should always make the effort.

[stinson]

I know Ken well and would bet my favorite rifle that if he had been the one to find the gun he would have done everything possible to get it back to the rightful owner.

[stinson]

Bump

This is the same outdoors man that left his mules, trailer and saddles at our camp as he left to go back to work. Packed one bull out after he left, his only regret was he was not there to help.

[StevenB]

Originally Posted by beardbuster

You can do a postcard and mail it out to the tag holders that were in the area at the time. A friend of mine just bought a list of names from ODFW and I created a promotional card for his business. I am sure you can purchase just the Successful Tag Holders for a specific unit.

If this is something you want to do. PM me and we'll talk, I am well versed in the mailing and the design end of things. It may cost you a couple hundreds bucks for printing and bulk mail, but if it means getting the gun back to your brother

That is a good idea. Especially if you invest in this idea... DON'T make the post card look like Junk Mail.. Maybe... Hand write the address. An make the message look interesting and important.

[beardbuster]

Did he find his gun???

[Zumwalt]

H&F,

PM me the info and I'll have dispatch enter it.

[Hunt'nFish]

Thanks, Zumwalt. Will do. Ken kept no records.....but I did.
Hunt'nFish