The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-03
HARDLY WORTH WHILE
The Bounty Law Seems 10 Lean Favor
ably towards the Coyote.
HEAPS OF AFFlDAVllS
In Order 20 Receive His Bounty the
Hunter Must submit to Oues-
lions Enough to Kill an
Ordinary Man.

which attract the attention of visitors and
elicit numerous inquiries from the tender
foot class. The bits of hide aud hair rep-
resent each "A coyote bounty claim ana are
accommodating IN the office evidence
that some of Mssoula's bold hunters
have been on the warpath, and that the
sneaking, thieving coyotes have fallen
victims to their trusty riiies-that is, II
looks that way. but as n matter of fact.
the average hunter of Mlssoula kills his
coyotes with poison. It's easier. He lays
his bait and then goes home to bed and
sstrychnine docs the work. 1t isn't, OF
course, 80 romantic as TO chase the WHY
vol with ne IN hand and with unerring
aim to bring INN writing to the dust. as
the dime novels have il, but II is more
practical. Strychnine IS as cheap as
cartridges. and then there is a great saw
ing in wear and tenr. .-....
But when the bold hunter comes to coll
iect his bounty, he finds that, under the
new law, lie has 10 earn II, even II he has
killed the animal 10y poison and without
effort. The new bounty law makes ueces-
sary a string Of afii Iavits longer than the
moral law and by the time he has sworn
TO all the facts set forth in the law, the
average hunter is apt to wish that he had
never poisoned the poor animal for whose
death he expects TO receive n bounty.
One hunter the other day said that he
wished that he had poisoned the man who
drew up the law. The bounty is all right
but this swearing business made him
tired.
when the slayer of coyotes brings his
pelts to the coun ty clerk for the purpose
of obtaining his bounty, Deputy Wilkin-
son takes the skins, surveys them with
the air of an expert and asks the hunter
If those we're not killed in Deer Lodge
county. OF course he expects the man to
Indignantly deny this insnuation and
when the angry denial comes, Wilke
deity punches the ears and adds the
punched pieces to his collection. Then
the innocent, guileless hunter thinks that
he will got his bounty money but there is
where he gets fooled. Mr.. Wilkinson
flashes an extensive legal blank and the
bewildered nimrod is catechlsed as to the
time, place and manner of tho
aforesaid staying of the above
mentioned coyote aud finally whom he
has told his family history for the past
three generations, he summons up cour-
ace enough to tell the clerk that he is
after bounty and not marriage license.
lie is informed that he is all right and
that he will get his bounty-after n while.
He settles down stoically and proceeds
TO swear. In fact, he would swear TO any
thing by this time, and he is generally
unable to tell whether he has killed a
grizzly bear or a gopher. But he makes
aflidav;d as follows:
AFFIDAVIT FOR THE KILLING or CERTAIN
STOCK DESTROYING ANIMALS.
STATE OF MONTANA,
county OF MiSSoula, 80
sworn and SAYS: That he killed cor caused to
killed. the animal. from which the ski ......
now here presented TO the county clerk were
taken. That the same. killed within
the bounds Of the county of Nilsson a within %
days last past and subsequent to March l, 1895.
Signed. .,.......-............
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ......
day............, \. d., 49,.
County Clerk of Missoula County.
When this has been sworn to, the poor
hunter is sweating as if he were chasing
deer through the burnt timber But he
has only just begun. He has to 60 out AMI
hunt up two resident taxpayers, who are
acquainted with him and TO whom he must
relate the circumstances connected with
the killing of tho coyote. When he has
posted them sufficiently, he leads them TO
the court house and they proceed TO swear
rs per the following blank:
AFFIDAVIT or TWO RESIDENT TAXPAYERS.
STATE or MONTANA, &c
COUNTY OF MIssoULA.
.
being duly sworn. depose and ay.each for him
self and not one for the other: That he is a
resident OF the county Of Missoula and a tax
payer therein: that he is acquainted with the
person presenting the skin. mentioned in the
annexed affidavit and certificate; that TO the
best of his belief the animal. from which the
said skin were taken were killed within the
limits OF said county.
.....-..s. O..
...........- .....-....-.
Subscribed f~1auu sworn TO before this
............da day of........-...A. D, lS9...
.......... .... .-.. seer.
County Clerk OF MiSsoua County
Then he sits down and tells his
friends to wait a minute and he will buy
them drinks. While they wait the county
clerk proceeds TO fiji oil; tho county GER
titlcatc as follows;
BOUNTY CERTIFICATE.
STATE OF MONTANA, -
COUNTY OF MIssoyLA,
- county clerk OF the county OF Mis-
soula, do hereby certify that -- has eXhib
tied To me This -- day ~ --- A. d, lS9-
the shln Of - co votes and - wolves, and
has Il Ell with me his affidavit that he has killed
within ninety days from is date the = ANNA
from which the skin --- taken, and that the
same - killed In this county
And further certify that have carefully ex
am ned and punched the ears Of the above men,
toned sail according 10 law, IN the presenc,
OF - OF said county.
Witness my hand and seal this - day OF 49,
\. u. lS9-. -
County Clerk OF M'ssoula County
attest;
s.t Of Missoula County.
This having been done, the poor hunter
expects TO get ms money, so that he can
make good his promise TO his friends T.
buy them drinks. But again he is doomed
\ n 0