I am sure I will get beat up for this but whatever.... I don't shoot much and just noticed that my 7mm is not in the gun cabinet. My initial thoughts are A. I forgot it on the PLOTS land I was hunting at dark after dragging my buck out in 2024, or B. It got stolen out of my vehicle. My initial thought is there was a lot going on, and we forgot to grab it where we field dressed the deer or on the fence line of the PLOTS. I got home thinking we grabbed it, and while I was cleaning the deer it got cleaned and put away. I don't like to think that someone would steal something from my driveway or in my garage. I feel terrible but I guess things happen. This is a shot in the dark to see if anyone found a rifle on PLOTS land. I can explain the gun to a T and would be forever grateful. It is a Browning BAR 7mm.
Happens easier than a guy would think. Dog and I had been on a LONG walk for Ruffs in N MN. As I often do, I opened the action of my shotgun to clear it and set the rib into a tread-block of the ditch-side tire to keep it from falling over. I got the dog some water, got myself some water, took a couple pics, probably had a little snack. I put the water away, went to the driver's door and let the dog into he cab, climbed in and drove away. Next spot was about 15-20Min away. I got there and immediately went into full panic as I knew where the shotgun was. Luckily the spot is sort of a dead end and not a lot of traffic. I got back as fast as I could and the shotgun was lying right where it should be.
I once shot a few rounds of Skeet just outside of Sioux Falls. Went into the clubhouse and had something it eat. When I finished I got in the car and drove back to the hotel. Went to grab the shotguns to take them into my hotel room, nothing but empty cases. Again, luckily, when I got back to the range, the 2 shotguns were right where I'd left them in the rack.
I came very close to leaving a rifle behind in MT after loading a deer, opening and then closing a barbed-wire gate. I was backing out onto the road when I spotted my rifle leaning up against the fence.
You should probably let the authorities know. If it was registered to you and winds up in the hands of a nefarious folk who uses it for darkly matters, it could come back to you.
Yep, I'd be on the horn to the Sheriff. It's possible someone turned it in, or at least gave the Sheriff contact info and perhaps a description and Serial Number.