Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-02-12
Animal Bounty Law.
Following are the provisions OF the
animal bounty law, which is published

animal bounty law, which is published
by request:
Section /. There shall be paid out
of the territorial treasury, for the
killing OF animals hereinafter mem
toned which have been killed in said
territory the following bounties: For
each mountain lion, two dollars; for
each bear, two dollars; for each wolf
or coyote, two dollars; for each Wild
cat, lynx or bobcat, fifty cents.
Sec. 2. Any person killing any one
of the above named animals, for the
purpose of obtaining the bounty
thereon, shall, within sixty (6O) days
from the date of killing any of said
animals, exhibit the entire skin of said
animal or animals, including the tail,
and the skin from the forehead, en-
bracing the ears of each animal, to
the probate Judge of the county in
which such animal or animals were
killed: Provided, that this act shall
not apply to any skins of any animals
which may have been killed prior to
February 90. 1889.
Sec. 3. Any person presenting to
the probate judge of the county, the
skin or skins of any such animals for
the purpose of obtaining bounty
thereon, shall at the time file with
such probate Judge his affidavit set
ting forth that affiant killed the ami
NAL or animals from which the skin or
skins were taken, that the same were
killed within the bounds OF the county
in which the application for the GER
tificate is made, which certificate shall
be substantially in the following form:
Here follows form OF certificate
made before the county clerk form
erly before the probate judeg) that
animals were killed as aboverequired.) J
Sec. 4. The probate judge shall, be-
tore issuing any certificates to any per-
son or persons for the killing of any of
the above mentioned animals, require
the affidavit of two respectable free
holders, residents of said county, that
they are acquainted with the person
or persons exhibiting the skin or skins;
that to the best of their belief the ami
NAL or ANIMALS from which such skin
or skins were taken were killed within
the limits of said county.
Sec. 3. The probate judge, with the
county clerk or county treasurer OF
said county, whose duty it shall be to
be present, shall minutely examine
each skin presented in order to pre-
vent fraud, and should said officers,
after careful examination, find that
the scalp and ears belonging to each
skin have not been severed, patched
or punched, the probate judge shall
then, in the presence of the officer or
officers herein named, mark each ear
by punching hole one inch in diam
eter in the same, and thcn shall deliver
said skin or skins to the owner or
owners.
Sec. 9. The probate Judge shall then
and there make out and deliver to
such owner certificate under his
official seal, showing the number and
species of skin or skins so punched;
such certificate shall be duly signed by
him in his official capacity, and shall
be attested by said county clerk or
county treasurer, who shall witness
and sign the same in his official capac-
ity. The probate judge and officer as
sisting him shall receivefrom the party
to whom the certificate is issued the
sum of twenty-five cents for each and
every skin so punched, which shall be
| in ftiII compensation for all services
endered by such officers under the
provisions of this act, including affi-
davits and certificate. OF the said fee
of twenty-five cents the probate judge
shall receive fifteen cents, and the as
sisting' officer ten cents
Sec. z. 1t shall be the duty of the
probate judge to keep a record, in a
bound book kept tor the purpose, ol
all skins so punched, showing dates
number and kind of skins so punched
name of owner or owners, and OF the
witness, and said book shall be trans
mitted to his successor on the expira
tion of his term of office.
Sec. 8. Whenever any probate Judge
shall have reason to believe that any
person or persons presenting the Skin
or skins of any OF the above mentioned
animals for the purpose of obtaining
bounty thereon has evaded any OF th'
provisions of this act, or seeks to oh
tain the bounty thereon unlawfully, II
is hereby made his duty to require
from such person or persons satisfac
tory evidence OF the time, place ant
manner of the killing of said anima
or animals.
Sec. 9. 1t shall be the duty of tn
territorial auditor to take all certlh
Gates presented that have been issuet
under the provisions OF this act, ant
he shall give the person or person
presenting the certificates a warran
on the territorial treasury for tn
amount, as specified i'll section 1 @
this act. The person presenting tn
certificate shall receipt upon the bac
of it the full amount received, and tn
auditor and treasurer shall keep an az
count OF all warrants so issued an
paid, which shall appear in their al
nual reports to the governor.
Sec. 10. Any person who shall falsel
make, alter, forge, or counterfeit an
OF the certificates mentioned in thi
act, shall be deemed guilty OF forgery
u and upon conviction thereof shall b
punished by Imprisonment in the tel
ritorial prison for term OF not les
than one ~ year, nor more than te
years.
Sec. IL. Any person or persons VIII
shall patch up any skin or scalp, wit
: intention to defraud the territory, {
shall sign any certificates herein PR
vided for without first counting I'll
skins, or shall Intentionally evade an
of these provisions, shall be deeme
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upo
conviction thereof shall be fined M
= less than two hundred dollars, nj
. more than one thousand dollars,
. by Imprisonment in the county ls
for not less than two nor more tbs
six months, or by both such fine al
imprisonment.
Sec. 12. Any person or persons wi
shall swear falsely as witness,
procure the same to be done by a
other, for the purpose of obtaining
procuring from any probate Judge
this territory a certificate as in II
4 act mentioned, shall be deemed gull
of perjury or subornation of periur
as the case may be, and upon conv
ton thereof shall be punished by i
-, prisopment in the territorial pris
for a term not less than one nor me
than ten years.
Sec. 13. This act shall take efft