Well into the twentieth century wild animals presented a challenge to the farmers and rancher of Gosper County and all of western Nebraska. Wolves, coyotes and other predators attacked the cattle and and sheep and raided chicken coops indiscriminately. Eventually a "Wolf Bounty" law was enacted. Under the law farmers and ranchers were paid a bounty for each wolf, coyote, or lynx that was killed. The law was abused and some men were accused of breeding those animals in order to later kill them and collect the bounty. (See Wolf Bounties in Nebraska)

Shown here are two photographs taken when the farmers and ranchers of Gosper County gathered for two coyote hunts. Fred Mahar appears in the first photograph, standing near the center wearing a peaked hat. Both pictures were probably taken after 1905 when the bounty paid was $5.00 for each wolf, $1.25 for each coyote and $1.00 for each lynx killed.

If anyone can identify any man in either photograph, please contact me at .

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