[footfootfoot]

Hunting and stopped to shoot an animal. Leaned gun against tree and moved to where animal was downed several hundred yds away. Broke ankle, tripped and hit head, bitten by snake, gila monster, attacked by puma also hunting said animal, animal in death throws cuts brachial artery and guy bleeds out, dies of exposure, freezes to death, poison whatever. Body consumed, horse runs away.

Stops on a long journey, tired hungry, thirsty, disoriented. Stops and rests, is distracted when time to leave and doesn’t realize gun is left until 100 miles later, can’t go back.

Hides gun temporarily with intent to return to it and is taken prisoner, shot by Indians, lawmen, or the like who are unaware that it is there.
Stops to rest and freezes to death under the tree. Body dragged away.

Leaves gun for someone who is following but that person never makes it.