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Warning: Long story-
Awhile back and through a mutual friend, I was introduced to a local farmer who was having troubles with elk damaging his fences and his fields. He will be referred to as Mr Bubblegum. He was a little high strung but he seemed like an intelligent and decent guy. I have experience harvesting elk. He had none and needed the help. I own a few firearms in 30-06 and he didn't own a rifle so we agreed that he would be using mine to take his. We would take two elk out of the problem herd using land owner damage control tags issued through ODF&W. I would help him skin, gut and hang his animal and I would put one in my freezer. I do not know this person well, but it seemed like a pretty good arrangement for the both of us.
I get a call from him that the tags are issued and then wait for a call when the elk show back up in his field. That day comes. I drop my elk in his pasture. Mr Bubblegum hits his but it ran off into the timber. I tagged my elk, he found and finished his off using a pistol, at which point I told him he needed to tag his elk. Two elk on the ground, one tagged and I remind him 3 times that he needed to tag his. Each time he became more evasive. Firearms involved, dead wildlife on the ground, red flags on a secluded property, I tell him I need to run home for more supplies. As soon as I hit the asphalt I callled OSP, explained what was happening and ask that they come check the situation out.
I return to the property 20 minutes later and get to work on my elk. I'm not touching his until it is tagged and a fourth reminder produced no results. As I am getting ready to start skinning my elk I hear voices behind me. Three state troopers are standing around the guy and I hear "Mr Bubblegum, you are a convicted felon. You are not even supposed to touch a firearm". Yeah, my heart sank.
The troopers ask some questions, asked where the rifle was and stated that they would need it for evidence. Heart sinks a little further. This rifle is my most prized and sentimental possession. I immediately beat myself up for allowing it to slip through my fingers and unleash a string of profanity towards Mr Bubblegum that may have also involved his mother.
I asked the trooper about the consequences of unknowingly handing a convicted felon a firearm and he informed me that I did nothing wrong as he had been deceptive with me. He also assured me that he would recommend that the rifle eventually be returned as I was just trying to do the right thing. At this point he said "Mr Nwwoodsman, you can take your animal and get out of here". As I leave I see Mr Bubblegum handcuffed and crying talking to the officers.
Charges for Mr Bubbblegum included 2 counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of failing to immediately tag a big game animal
He eventually pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession, sparing a trial and my testimony. His punishment- 2 years probation and $500 in court fees.
Today I was allowed to pick my rifle up from the evidence locker. I have spent every day for over a year anticipating this and being concerned about the condition of the rifle. It was last used in muddy moist conditions and it hadn't seen a drop of oil the entire time. I figured surface rust at best and a complete reblue or rebarreling needed at worst
A few things I learned during all of this-
1. I will never ever let anyone outside of my immediate family touch one of my firearms again without them undergoing a full background check first. Not for show and tell, not for target practice, nothing. I like to think of myself as a good judge of character, but this guy had me fooled. 30 seconds in the wrong hands almost costs me very dearly.
2. Criminals have no need to worry. This guy faced two felony in possession charges. One for using my rifle to drop an elk. Not the crime of the century. However, he was also illegally in possession of an illegally obtained handgun. No further investigation as to where he got it. His punishment was a whopping 2 years probation.
The rifle came back in much better shape than I expected. There was no rust. However it was completely coated in fingerprinting dust. An hour of cleaning and it is almost as good as new. The writing by the evidence tech will be left as a reminder.
Awhile back and through a mutual friend, I was introduced to a local farmer who was having troubles with elk damaging his fences and his fields. He will be referred to as Mr Bubblegum. He was a little high strung but he seemed like an intelligent and decent guy. I have experience harvesting elk. He had none and needed the help. I own a few firearms in 30-06 and he didn't own a rifle so we agreed that he would be using mine to take his. We would take two elk out of the problem herd using land owner damage control tags issued through ODF&W. I would help him skin, gut and hang his animal and I would put one in my freezer. I do not know this person well, but it seemed like a pretty good arrangement for the both of us.
I get a call from him that the tags are issued and then wait for a call when the elk show back up in his field. That day comes. I drop my elk in his pasture. Mr Bubblegum hits his but it ran off into the timber. I tagged my elk, he found and finished his off using a pistol, at which point I told him he needed to tag his elk. Two elk on the ground, one tagged and I remind him 3 times that he needed to tag his. Each time he became more evasive. Firearms involved, dead wildlife on the ground, red flags on a secluded property, I tell him I need to run home for more supplies. As soon as I hit the asphalt I callled OSP, explained what was happening and ask that they come check the situation out.
I return to the property 20 minutes later and get to work on my elk. I'm not touching his until it is tagged and a fourth reminder produced no results. As I am getting ready to start skinning my elk I hear voices behind me. Three state troopers are standing around the guy and I hear "Mr Bubblegum, you are a convicted felon. You are not even supposed to touch a firearm". Yeah, my heart sank.
The troopers ask some questions, asked where the rifle was and stated that they would need it for evidence. Heart sinks a little further. This rifle is my most prized and sentimental possession. I immediately beat myself up for allowing it to slip through my fingers and unleash a string of profanity towards Mr Bubblegum that may have also involved his mother.
I asked the trooper about the consequences of unknowingly handing a convicted felon a firearm and he informed me that I did nothing wrong as he had been deceptive with me. He also assured me that he would recommend that the rifle eventually be returned as I was just trying to do the right thing. At this point he said "Mr Nwwoodsman, you can take your animal and get out of here". As I leave I see Mr Bubblegum handcuffed and crying talking to the officers.
Charges for Mr Bubbblegum included 2 counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of failing to immediately tag a big game animal
He eventually pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession, sparing a trial and my testimony. His punishment- 2 years probation and $500 in court fees.
Today I was allowed to pick my rifle up from the evidence locker. I have spent every day for over a year anticipating this and being concerned about the condition of the rifle. It was last used in muddy moist conditions and it hadn't seen a drop of oil the entire time. I figured surface rust at best and a complete reblue or rebarreling needed at worst
A few things I learned during all of this-
1. I will never ever let anyone outside of my immediate family touch one of my firearms again without them undergoing a full background check first. Not for show and tell, not for target practice, nothing. I like to think of myself as a good judge of character, but this guy had me fooled. 30 seconds in the wrong hands almost costs me very dearly.
2. Criminals have no need to worry. This guy faced two felony in possession charges. One for using my rifle to drop an elk. Not the crime of the century. However, he was also illegally in possession of an illegally obtained handgun. No further investigation as to where he got it. His punishment was a whopping 2 years probation.
The rifle came back in much better shape than I expected. There was no rust. However it was completely coated in fingerprinting dust. An hour of cleaning and it is almost as good as new. The writing by the evidence tech will be left as a reminder.
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