Four Years Later: Goose Hunter's Jacket, Wallet Returned

by
posted on October 24, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (38)

A story out of Clara City, Minn., proves—according to the goose hunter involved—"there's still good people in the world."

The tale begins in autumn 2009, when Owen Schipnewski took his 12-year-old son goose hunting at the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area. After the hunt, Schipnewski accidentally put his favorite goose hunting jacket in the back of the truck. Somewhere along the way home, the jacket—which contained Schipnewski's wallet and $1,700 cash—blew out of the truck. Frantically he retraced his steps, but the jacket was gone.

Gone because it had been found by Trent Jorgenson, who discovered it along the road after he too had been waterfowling. Jorgenson gave the jacket a cursory glance, noted it contained a few 10-gauge shotgun shells, and threw it in his vehicle. He never found Schipnewski's wallet, so he figured there was no way to track down the jacket's rightful owner. Given that Jorgenson is only an occasional hunter, he put the jacket in his garage, where it sat unused all these years.

That is, until some friends invited Jorgenson to once again hunt ducks. There was rain in the forecast and, lacking appropriate gear, he remembered the waterproof jacket he found four years prior. However, this time when he inspected the jacket, he found Schipnewski's cell phone, his son's hunter safety certificate, and a wallet containing five $20 bills and several $100 bills.

Jorgenson began calling saved numbers in Schipnewski's cell phone and soon tracked him down. He says he was never tempted to keep the cash because, according to the West Central Tribune, he believes that would've been "bad karma."

An elated Schipnewski drove to Jorgenson's home to pick up the jacket. Despite Jorgenson's protests, Schipnewski left him with enough cash to buy a jacket of his own.

HT: The Outdoor Pressroom

Latest

LEDEYHEC
LEDEYHEC

NRA YHEC Nationals Happening in Arkansas

The NRA National Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) Nationals are currently in Bentonville, Ark., running from July 19 to 26, 2026.

Hardware Review: Leupold VX-4HD

Matt Foster reviews the Leupold VX-4HD 4-16x50mm CDS-ZL2 Side Focus Illuminated FireDot Twilight Hunter.

First Look: ScentLok Savanna Fuse Warm Weather Quarter Zip

Early-season whitetail hunting is a mental and physical grind against the thermostat. ScentLok's Savanna series has long served as the blueprint for warm-weather concealment, and its latest iteration—the Savanna Fuse 1/4 Zip—continues that tradition.

HIVIZ Shooting Systems Celebrates 30 Years of Innovative Excellence

HIVIZ Shooting Systems, a leader in high-visibility sight solutions, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1996, the company has offered products that improve sight visibility and performance through cutting-edge fiber-optic and tritium-based systems.

Know How: Prairie Dogs for Practice

Use a dog town to warm up for big-game seasons, test gear and more.

Heritage Outdoor Group Acquires Badlands

Heritage Outdoor Group ("Heritage") has announced the acquisition of Badlands, a hunting backpack, gear and apparel brand, from W. C. Bradley Co. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.