Oregon Historical County Records Guide
Columbia County Records Inventory
Animal Bounty Records
1901-1981
Series documents the payment of county and state bounty money to individuals who presented the scalps and other prescribed body parts of targeted predatory animals. The program was intended to control the threat to livestock. Examples of targeted animals include coyote, cougar, mountain lion, panther, wildcat, bobcat, lynx, and wolf. Records include registers, affidavits, certificates, and statements. Information includes claimant and affiant names; kind of animal; number of scalps; date killed or presented; and number, amount, and date of warrant. The records are also referred to as scalp bounty records.
Records at the Columbia County Courthouse, Basement Vault:
Register of Scalp Bounty Warrants [also includes road warrants], vol. 1, 1901-1903
(1 volume);
Scalp Bounty [Claim Record-includes loose statements], 1925-1952 (1 volume).
Records at the Columbia County Courthouse Annex, Vault:
Scalp Bounty Claims [Animal], 1959-1981 (.40 cu.ft.).
Records at the Columbia County Courthouse, Museum Library:
Bounty Record [Animal Scalp], 1905-1936 (1 volume).