Rifle Found - California D17

[Nine Banger]

Definitely looks like it was manufactured in that color, it’s consistent throughout all sides.

Ahh, rust and anodizing. My imagination was way off.

 

[GARLICSALT]

Anything is possible, but if that is the case then this particular lowlife went through a lot of trouble to drive to the middle of the desert, then hike even farther into the middle of the desert, to ditch this gun.

My guess is that it fell off someone's pack and they didn't notice until they got back to their truck or to their glassing spot. Must have been a bummer to realize you lost your gun off the back of the pack. Hopefully they didn't miss an opportunity at a buck out there because of it!

Another interesting thing to note is that it has the little rings where a rifle sling would go, but no rifle sling attached. I considered that maybe the strap broke and that is how they lost it, but in that case I expect they would have noticed.

I usually hike with OnX tracker on, mainly to see how far my hikes were, but now I have an even better reason to use tracker regularly. If I ever lose something like this I should be able to track back and find it.

So, did ya see any deer?

 

[kpk]

I once dumped my pack while archery hunting antelope in SD. I had a moment of panic when I turned around and realized everything looks exactly the same in every direction as far as you can see and there was no landmark as to where my pack was. Surprisingly easy to do something stupid like this in the heat of the moment.

 

[JGRaider]

Indeed. Good on you. I would love to hear the story on this one. As a Marine, I am always morbidly fascinated by stories of lost rifles. It’s nightmare material.

Nice gesture OP.......QS, thank you very much for your service to our great country.

 

[WrstMuleHntr]

So, did ya see any deer?

Yes! Only 8 does on day 1. Day 2 I met up with a buddy and we saw 4 does, 2 spikes and a legal forky. My buddy made a stalk, but got winded before he could even re-locate the buck once he got within about 50 yds.

 

[Indian Summer]

A game warden will only know something if it was reported to him. I would pursue tracking down the owner through the state using the serial number.

 

[ChrisAU]

It’s an Optics Planet special “FDE” Diamondback Tactical.

 

[whoop]

Indeed. Good on you. I would love to hear the story on this one. As a Marine, I am always morbidly fascinated by stories of lost rifles. It’s nightmare material.

A friend of mine leaned his up next to a tree when he ran across a good chanterelle patch. He found it a couple weeks later. it's tough when you have a lost rifle and don't want to bring a search party into a good mushroom patch.

 

[Weldor]

It's crazy, but at least once a year or more someone reports finding a firearm. Different forums different places. I know of 2 instances myself down here, one was leaning on a fence by a wire gate, the other was a Elk hunter in our camp he left his rifle leaning on a tree where we loaded up the last of the meat into his truck. Luckily we found it right he left it. Nobody snatched it because it was definitely visible from the trail. Your find is very interesting being found way out there. Following for sure.

 

[S.Clancy]

The real question is.......does it still hold zero...?

 

[Dan Carey]

The scope looks to be in better condition than the rifle.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I would pursue tracking down the owner through the state using the serial number.

And how would you do that?

 

[RichardSkinner]

Indeed. Good on you. I would love to hear the story on this one. As a Marine, I am always morbidly fascinated by stories of lost rifles. It’s nightmare material.

Total nightmare fuel. In basic I used to sleep with my sling around my arm so no one could steal my rifle.

 

[Lowedown]

Prior owner might have been packing it during archery season also....and that is why it was ditched.
Hopefully it wasn't something like that but who knows. Good on you for trying to find it's home!

 

[TaperPin]

The whole thing is more or less a total loss, so you’ve done more to find the owner than I would have.

Guns found in the desert were probably ditched.

Probably a good thing it didn’t fire with who knows what in the barrel.

 

[Indian Summer]

And how would you do that?

I would go to a gun dealer with an FFL and ask him who to contact.

 

[Erict]

Most law enforcement officers, including ALL game wardens, should be able to check the gun to see if it is reported stolen. You would likely be required to turn it over to them as "found property" and if it's not stolen or claimed you could get it back after the required period.

Despite the low probability, it could have been reported lost, stolen or evidence from a crime. Turn it in and maybe you'll get a call someday with an explanation how the gun came to be where you found it. Good luck

PS - California is among many states with a law addressing lost firearms:

California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 25250​

(a) Commencing July 1, 2017, every person shall report the loss or theft of a firearm he or she owns or possesses to a local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the theft or loss occurred within five days of the time he or she knew or reasonably should have known that the firearm had been stolen or lost.