New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-01
A COYOTE HUNTER.
HE RELATES WHY IT ISN'T AM ro-''
SOME INSTRUCTIVE POINTS FOR THE Nooi'"
SPORTSMAN AND FEW sIDELTGHTs On
CALIFORNIA RED TAPE.


better places Quail and jack-rabbits are pien,y'
and ono may shoot a deer now and then IN '''
mountains II no one is looking. one neeus u "
careful. not 10 make ones self liable 20 the pay
ment OF fines FOR shooting game. But ai'e' ar
there cannot be any other animal that II = - =
penslve 20 Kill the coyote, which not Only - ~
protected by law. but is regarded as puono
enemy And thereby hangs a tale'-to say nothing
OF scalp.
When first went 10 California used TO DE- io'r
OF taking long walks or rides both for the SAM -
the exercise and 70 familiarize myself WIN III
country. II OF these httle eNPeD'"o'
tina; I shot my first Cand lasD coyote was OF,
foot and accompanied by my dog Inc mon'",
saw my coyote quickly raised my rifle ana sno'
al him. hitting him IN the leg. II" niheu'' ,'
began 10 run. Unwounded. the coyote "oun 'i'"'
have escaped from my dog but with only three FsS
he had little chance. lie reached the Dahk o.
little river just ahead. and began 10 SWIM io' NV
opposite shore. But when half way across ne "
entanged in some floating brush or other op-
struction and the dog overlook him For -"
moments the two animals fought hercey Oi cou'Se'
| did not dare to fire the coyote again ior ie'r
OF hitting the dog. | accordingly waded INTO 'ne
stream. and with the stock OF my rifle soon cuDDei
the beast into nsensbility. / then took o"' NY
knife and s,aped him. remembering that the STATE
offered a reward Of s. apiece for coyote sralps.
EVERYTHING THE WORSE FOR WEAR
back upon dry land and called my dog after me-
then found that he had been badly bitten about
the throat ana lower jaw. and also that had
damaged the trigger ~ my rife In pounding the
coyotes head. After had reached home ana sN-
changed my clothes for dry suit drove mo
town and took my dog 10 veterinary surgeon
who dressed the animals wounds and to.d me
how to treat them while they were healing also
left my rife with sunsmith and my trousers with
a tailor.
The morning / awoke wiki sore throat
a voice Ike that Of Yale u.n after 1oatrace
won by the blue. a high pulse and several other
unpleasant symptoms and sent for doctor
ont again in few days. and. determined 70
get my s. at any cost. took my coyote scalp and
went with It. as a friend had told me would be
necessary. % the county seat about twenty miles
distant. the fare for the round trip being 10 cents
besides sireetcar fare a. each end. tcld the
young man whom | found ~ The courthouse that
had coyote scalp. He smiled and said that he
didn't want H. AID suggested that probably the
county clerk could tell me what 10 do with 1t.
hunted mp the county clerk and tod him my or
rand He grinned and said that the treasurer
would be the most natural man 10 collect money
from. This suggestion sounded reasonable. and SO
went into the treasurers Office There was no
one there except a very pretty girl. who was stand
ing beside a typewrting machine | said 20 her
I want to the treasurer have here coyote
scalp
THE COY AND KITTEN1SH TYPEWRITER.
'"Ohr she exclaimed and. gathering up her skirts
with hand. y she thought that coyote
scalp might bear some resemblance 20 a mouse she
hurried into another ROOM from which in a few mo-
ments me treasurer himself emerged. He looked
az me ~ II had been dime museum freak and
said suppose you are trying to collect the bounty
for your scalp | admitted hat was Well he
said I don't understand that the county has 20
pay thai bounty. Al any rate. l have never been
called upon - pay ~ before. You had better sec
the auditor. he might know about it.
Il was beginning % feel uncommonly Ike fooi
bv this time and when | had found the aLlitor
and stated nv business to him. ne obviously enter
tanned the same opinion Of me. The county does
not paw the bounty he said. But You must de-
post he scalp with the clerk ~ ;he Board OF su-
pervisors OF the county, and ne viii give you
certificate for f.
Il accordingly went TO that OH al. and cautiously
asked him II NJ knew anything about the method
OF collecting the bounty on coyote scalps. Ger
,ainly he replied. 4 attend 20 tina; business for
this county
Il heaved sigh Of RELIEF upon hearing these
words and told him tina / had a scalp. the bounty
upon which should Ike 10 collect. Have you your
Affidavit he asked.
What affidavit ! replied.
why ne SAID. before you come here you should
have taken the scalp to a notary public and sub
scribed 10 an affidavit showing the time and place
tina, the animal was killed. Then you should have
brought both the scalp ard the affidavit to ne
"Of COURSE ! could easily have found a notary
piiblic in the county town. But i, happened that
/ had a young friend in my town who had just
qualified as a notary public. and to whom had
promised 10 give a.. my business. l had made the
promise half in Joke; but | determined to Keep u
nevertheless / accordingly returned home went L.
nv friend and subscribed the affidavit required.
The next day returned to the county courthouse
a1. and atf r.
the clerk Of the Board Of Supervisors. He looked
critically az the scalp for a moment. and then said
Where If the nose?
OF COURSE. THE NOSE WAS NECESSARY.
II suppose l replied. that It is still connected
with the rest OF the beasts carcass. II is un-
commonly large contract for me to take care Of thu
scalp without being expected to keep the run OF
every particular organ and member Of the ANNA.
In addition
But. he said it is necessary to have the
as well az the order 10 collect the bounty.
The law reads that way You ought 10 have had II
look that deiec, if You viii get it now
Il saw that ne had me at his mercy, and ! re
my nrst visit. I was still determined to get that
s. h9weVeT; ana aeGosa b H As ro soon n a. a.,
the scene OF my conquest. Naturally, the coyote
was not IN n me Hss foInna Enough f, 10 M" nd the
rIed in a bush which hung down into the water
After this interval IL had become a disgusting
looking object and sight was NOT the only sens
less and carried IL home.
The next day again made my usual pilgrimage
TO the clerk OF the Board OF Supervisors This time
he had no fault hnd. He took my trophies and
my affidavit. and Informed me that in about ten
weeks would send a certificate showing the
number OF scalps deposited A.th Kim o. during
the preceding quarter and the sum due me This
certificate. ne said. must send to the Controller
OF the State who would forward the money TO NE
at my expense.
THE CONTROLLERS POLITE NOTE.
Fortunately / not dependent FOR my support
upon the income derived from he bounty coyote
scalps I was accordingly able TO wait with fair
amount Of patience for the end OF the quarter, az
which time | actually received certificate from
the Board Of Supervisors. declaring that had de-
posted during the preceding quarter with the clerk
OF the Board coyote scalp for which was
entitled 70 receive the OF g. This certificate
/ promptly sent TO the Controller of State. from
whom Il few days later, | received the following |