BOUNTIES.
For many years the state governments of the wolf infested country
have been paying bounties on wolves and coyotes, to encourage the
hunting and trapping of these animals. It is doubtful, however,
whether the bounties offered are sufficient to encourage any, other
than the regular trappers, to hunt wolves, and if they are, it has
certainly had no definite results, for the wolves and coyotes, taken
over the whole country, are practically as plentiful as ever.
Realizing that the state bounties were not a sufficient inducement to
trappers, certain of the counties of those states where wolves are
most abundant, offer additional bounty. This has the effect of
thinning the wolves out of that county alone, but they immediately
become more plentiful in the adjoining portions of the country.
In some of the Western States, the stockmen pay a bounty, in addition
to that offered by the state. Some of them even offer special
inducements, in addition to the bounties paid on the captured
animals, and among them may be mentioned, board and lodging for the
trapper, bait for the traps and the use of saddle and pack horses.
Such special offers to trappers have the effect of stimulating the
hunting and trapping of noxious animals in that immediate vicinity
and the result is, a thinning out of the animals for the time being.
Usually the trappers drift into those sections where the animals are
most plentiful and the bounty is highest.
One of the Government bulletins has the following to say regarding
the bounty question:
"Bounties, even when excessively high, have proved ineffective in
keeping down the wolves, and the more intelligent ranchmen are
questioning whether the bounty system pays. In the past ten years
Wyoming has paid out in State bounties over $65,000 on wolves alone,
and $160,156 on wolves, coyotes and mountain lions together, and to
this must be added still larger sums in local and county bounties on
the same animals."
"In many cases three bounties are paid on each wolf. In the upper
Green River Valley the local stockmen's association pays a bounty of
$10 on each wolf pup, $20 on each grown dog wolf, and $40 on each
bitch with pup. Fremont County adds $3 to each of these, and the
State of Wyoming $3 more. Many of the large ranchers pay a private
bounty of $10 to $20 in addition to the county and state bounty. Gov.
Bryant B. Brooks, of Wyoming, paid six years ago, on his ranch in
Natrona County, $10 each on 50 wolves in one year, and considered it
a good investment, since it practically cleared his range of wolves
for the time. It invariably happens, however, that when cleared out
of one section the wolves are left undisturbed to breed in
neighboring sections, and the depleted country is soon restocked."
"A floating class of hunters and trappers receive most of the bounty
money and drift to the sections where the bounty is highest. If
extermination is left to these men, it will be a long process. Even
some of the small ranch owners support themselves in part from the
wolf harvest, and it is not uncommon to hear men boast that they know
the location of dens, but are leaving the young to grow up for higher
bounty. The frauds, which have frequently wasted the funds
appropriated for the destruction of noxious animals almost vitiate
the wolf records of some of the States: If bounties resulted in the
extermination of the wolves or in an important reduction in their
number, the bounty system should be encouraged, but if it merely
begets fraud and yields a perpetual harvest for the support of a
floating class of citizens, other means should be adopted."
[Illustration: Grey Wolf, the Kind on Which Bounty is Paid.]
The failure of bounties to accomplish their proposed object was
clearly shown by Dr. T. S. Palmer in 1896. Under the heading, "What
have bounties accomplished," he says:
"Advocates of the bounty system seem to think that almost any species
can be exterminated in a short time if the premiums are only high
enough. Extermination, however, is not a question of months, but of
years, and it is a mistake to suppose that it can be accomplished
rapidly except under extraordinary circumstances, as in the case of
the buffalo and the fur seal. Theoretically, a bounty should be high
enough to insure the destruction of at least a majority of the
individuals during the first season, but it has already been shown
that scarcely a single State has been able to maintain a high rate
for more than a few months, and it is evident that the higher the
rate, the greater the danger of fraud. Although Virginia has
encouraged the killing of wolves almost from the first settlement of
the colony, and has sometimes paid as high as $25 apiece for their
scalps, wolves were not exterminated until about the middle of this
(the past) century, or until the rewards had been in force for more
than two hundred years. Nor did they become extinct in England until
the beginning of the sixteenth century, although efforts toward their
extermination had been begun in the reign of King Edgar (959-975).
France, which has maintained bounties on these animals for more than
a century, found it necessary to increase the rewards to $30 and $40
in 1882, and in twelve years expended no less than $115,000 for
nearly 8,000 wolves."
"The larger animals are gradually becoming rare, particularly in the
East, but it can not be said that bounties have brought about the
extermination of a single species in any State."
"New Hampshire has been paying for bears about as long as Maine, but
in 1894 the State treasurer called attention to the large number
reported by four or five of the towns, and added that should the
other 231 towns 'be equally successful in breeding wild animals for
the State market, in proportion to their tax levy, it would require a
State tax levy of nearly $2,000,000 to pay the bounty claims' Even
New York withdrew the rewards on bears in 1895, not because they had
become unnecessary, but because the number of animals killed
increased steadily each year."
"Wolf skins are often ruined by the requirements of bounty laws,
especially when the head, feet, or ears are cut off. The importance
of preserving the skins in condition to bring the highest market
price is as great as that of making it impossible to collect bounties
twice. A slit in the skin can be sewed up so that it will never show
on the fur side, but can not be concealed on the inside. A single
longitudinal or vertical slit, or double or cross slits 4 inches
long, in the center where the fur is longest, would serve every
purpose of the law without seriously impairing the market value of
the skin."
One thing that is detrimental to the success of the bounty system, is
the invariable "red tape" connected with such laws. In some states
the bounty regulations are so complicated and so exacting, that
trappers do not care to follow "wolfing" because of the trouble in
securing the bounty money.
It would be impossible, in a work of this kind, to give the bounty
laws of the different states, also as they are repealed so
frequently, detailed information on that subject would be of little
value to the prospective hunter or trapper. We give, however, an
outline of the regulations in some of the principal wolf states.
The State of Wyoming pays a bounty of five dollars each on timber
wolves and mountain lions, and one dollar and twenty-five cents for
each coyote. In addition to this, there are both county and
stockmen's bounties in certain parts of the state. Some ranchmen
offer as much as forty-five dollars each, for grey wolves caught on
their ranches.
In order to secure the state bounty, one must present the entire skin
to the County Clerk, or Notary Public, of the county in which the
animal was killed, and accompanied by affidavit to the effect that
the animal was killed in that county, by the person presenting the
skin, on or after March 1st, 1909. The skin must have the feet and
upper jaw or head, with both upper and lower lips attached. The head
will then be cut off and destroyed by the county official. Applicants
for bounty must be identified.
With regard to private bounties, one should consult the county
officials, but these, and in that case, the state bounty also, are as
a rule, paid by the treasurer of the association offering the bounty.
Wisconsin pays twenty dollars on old wolves and eight dollars each on
pups. Half of this bounty money is paid by the state and the other
half by the county. In order to secure it, the trapper must take the
carcass of the animal to the Town Chairman and remove the scalp in
his presence. He gives a certificate to that effect and the bounty
claimant presents the scalp and certificate to the County Clerk, who
destroys the scalp and gives an order to the County Treasurer for
one-half of the bounty. The County Clerk also sends an affidavit to
the State Treasurer, stating that you have presented the scalp and it
has been destroyed and the claimant then receives the balance of the
bounty money from the state.
In the State of Washington the bounty is fifteen dollars on timber
wolves and one dollar on coyotes. The method of procuring the bounty
as given here is copied direct from the game law pamphlet:
"Upon the production to the county auditor of any county of the
entire hide or pelt and right fore leg to the knee joint intact of
any cougar, lynx, wild cat, coyote or timber wolf, killed in such
county, each of which hides or pelts shall show two ears, eye holes,
skin to tip of nose, and right fore leg to the knee join intact, the
county auditor shall require satisfactory proof that such animal was
killed in such county. When the county auditor is satisfied that such
animal was killed in his county, he shall cut from such hide or pelt
the bone of the right fore leg to the knee as aforesaid which shall
be burned in the presence of such auditor and one other county
official, who shall certify to the date and place of such burning."
Utah pays a bounty of ten dollars on grey wolves and two dollars and
fifty cents on coyotes. The entire skin, with tail, feet and the
bones of the leg, to the knee, must be presented to the County Clerk
within sixty days of the date on which said animal was killed. The
County Clerk must then remove and destroy the bones of the legs and
the applicant will sign an affidavit stating that the animal was
killed by himself, in that county and within sixty days prior to that
date.
The county official will then send a certified statement to the State
Auditor, along with the other papers, who, after same have been
examined, will transmit the bounty money to the claimant.
No bounty will be paid on the skin of a grey wolf until it has been
seen and passed upon by the board of county commissioners at their
first regular meeting. Bounty claimants must be identified by a
reputable citizen and tax payer of the county.
In Minnesota the bounty on grown wolves is seven dollars and fifty
cents and one dollar for wolf pups. The bounty regulations are
practically the same as in the other states; the entire skin with
head and ears intact must be presented to the Town Clerk within
thirty days and the applicant must take affidavit as to the date and
place of the killing.
In other states, if our information is correct, the bounties at
present (1909) are as follows:
ADULT WOLVES. YOUNG WOLVES. COYOTES.
Arizona $10 00 $2 00
Arkansas 5 00
Colorado 5 00 1 00
Idaho 10 00? 1 00?
Kansas 5 00 1 00
Michigan 25 00 $10 00
Montana 10 00 3 00
Nebraska 4 00 1 25
New Mexico 20 00 2 00
North Dakota 4 50 2 50
Oregon 10 00 7 00
South Dakota 5 00 1 50
THE CANADIAN PROVINCES.
Alberta 10 00 1 00 1 00
British Columbia 15 00 2.00
Ontario 15 00
Quebec 15 00
Saskatchewan 3 00 1 00
The fraud so often practiced by unscrupulous parties has always been
detrimental to the efficacy of the bounty system. The Bureau of
Biological Survey, have issued a special circular on this subject and
being of general interest, it is reprinted here.
WASTE IN BOUNTY PAYMENTS.
"The bounty system has everywhere proved an incentive to fraud, and
thousands of dollars are wasted annually in paying bounties on coyote
scalps offered in place of wolves, and on the scalps of dogs, foxes,
coons, badgers, and even cats, which are palmed off for wolves and
coyotes. If in all states having the bounty system whole skins,
including nose, ears, feet, and tail of both adult and young animals,
were required as valid evidence for bounty payments, the possibility
of deception would be reduced to a minimum. The common practice of
paying bounty on scalps alone, or in some cases merely the ears, is
dangerous, as even an expert can not always positively identify such
fragments. A satisfactory way of marking skins on which the bounty
has been paid is by a slit 4 to 6 inches long between the ears. This
does not injure the skins for subsequent use. If all bounty-paying
states would adopt such a system, the possibility of collecting more
than one bounty on the same skin in different states would be
avoided."
"The following directions have been prepared as an aid to county and
state officers in identifying scalps, skins, and skulls of wolves and
coyotes, the pups of wolves, coyotes, red, grey, and kit foxes, and
young bob-cats, coons and badgers."
"The variation in dogs is so great that no one set of characters will
always distinguish them from wolves or coyotes, but when there is
reason to suspect that dogs are being presented for bounties, their
skins and skulls should be sent to the Biological Survey for positive
identification. It goes without saying that anyone detected in such
fraud should be prosecuted with a view to the suppression of these
dishonest practices."
KEY TO ADULT WOLVES AND COYOTES.
Width of nose pad
WOLF. 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches
COYOTE. 3/4 to 1 inch
Width of heel pad of front foot
WOLF. 1 1/2 to 2 inches
COYOTE. 1 inch
Upper canine tooth--greatest diameter at base
WOLF. 5/10 to 6/10 inch
COYOTE. 3/10 to 4/10 inch
These characters will not always hold in Oklahoma and Texas east and
south of the Staked Plains, where there is a small wolf in size
between the Coyote and Lobo or Plains wolf.
[Illustration: Difference in Sizes of Noes, Heel Pads and
Canine Teeth of Wolves and Coyotes.]
KEY TO WOLF, COYOTE AND FOX PUPS.
Wolf Pups.
Muzzle blackish at birth, fading in a month or 6 weeks to
greyish.
Head greyish in decided contrast to black of back, nose and ears.
Ears black at tips, fading to greyish in a month or 6 weeks.
Tail black, fading to grey with black tip.
Coyote Pups.
Muzzle tawny, or yellowish brown, becoming more yellowish with
age.
Head yellowish grey, not strongly contrasted with rest of body.
Ears dark brown at tips and back, soon fading to yellowish brown.
Tail black, fading to grey with black tip.
Red Fox Pups.
Muzzle blackish.
Head dusky with side of face light yellowish.
Ears large, nearly the whole back of ears bright black at all
ages.
Eyes and ears relatively larger and nose pad smaller than in
coyote or wolf.
Tail dusky, tip white at all ages.
Grey Fox Pups.
Muzzle blackish.
Head greyish, face back or eyes sharply pepper and salt grey.
Ears large, back of ears dusky at tip, fulvous at base.
Eyes and nose pad small.
Tail with tip black at all ages.
Kit Fox Pups.
Muzzle with blackish patch on each side.
Head and face tawny or yellowish brown.
Ears tawny without black backs or tips.
Eyes larger and nose pad smaller than in young coyote.
Tail with tip black at all ages.
KEY TO YOUNG CATS, COONS AND BADGERS.
Young bobcats are much striped and spotted. Young cats of any kind
can be distinguished by the short nose and round head.
Young coons have a broad black band across the face and eyes
bordered above by a light band.
Young badgers have a white stripe between the eyes.
The bounty laws have always been a good thing for the trapper as they
have helped much towards making his occupation a lucrative one, but,
as before explained, it is doubtful if it has ever, in any marked
degree, tended to decrease the numbers of predatory animals.
It is true that continued trapping will cause the numbers of wolves
and coyotes to diminish, but would not the trapping be prosecuted
practically the same, even if there were no bounties? We believe that
it would, for if the bounty offered were any great incentive, there
would be more trapping done during the summer when the furs were of
no account.
Neither do we believe that it ever induces others, not trappers, to
kill these animals, for they will kill them on every opportunity,
bounty or no bounty. It is man's nature to kill, for he is the enemy
of all animal life.