This is an original large photograph dating to circa 1906-1908 Charles B. “Charley” Peyton a noted Montana game warden who was central to the tragic and controversial Swan Valley Massacre on October 18, 1908. Handwritten in pencil on the back, “Charley Peytons Hunting Party. Peyton second man from the right. Montana.” 

This image was taken in Montana circa 1906-1908 showing Montana Game Warden Charles B. Peyton and his hunting party, possibly including Herman Rudolph, posing in front of their tack and a number of hides. It does not mention if this is a seizure of items or not but the collection shows several Winchester Repeating Lever Action Rifles including Winchester Model 1886, Winchester Model 1892 or 1894 rifles. 
Charles B. Peyton (sometimes referred to as Charley Peyton or Samuel Peyton) was born on June 14, 1874 in Missouri and died on October 18, 1908 when he was killed during the Swan Valley Massacre at the age of 34. At the time Peyton had served as a Montana Game Warden for two years 1906-1908. Peyton and a deputized local ranch hand, Herman Rudolph, confronted a Pend d’Oreille / Flathead Reservation hunting party near Holland Lake in Montana’s Swan Valley, Seeley-Swan Valley. While on this patrol he encountered the hunting camp where numerous deer were being cured and upon speaking with a boy a the camp who spoke English, it was determined that one of the men did not have a hunting licenses and that another had harvested more deer than his licenses allowed. Two of the party were not at the camp, so Warden Peyton told them he would return in the morning. As he and a deputized civilian returned to the camp, they discovered that the hunting party was packing up the camp. When he approached one of the men in the group, they exchanged words and Warden Peyton attempted to explain that two of the men were under arrest for hunting violations. A shootout and gun fire ensued with both Charley and Herman being killed along with four Pend d’Oreille hunters being killed including Camille Paul, Martin Yellow Mountain, Joe Stuee, and his 13-year-old son Pelasoway Frank Stuee. The event triggered a massive, multi-year investigation by local and federal authorities. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes pushed for justice and criminal charges. However, white local defenders vigorously rallied behind Peyton's memory. Ultimately, the investigations concluded without clear resolution, and the Missoula County Attorney later claimed the investigative files were "lost". The historical details of what happened were heavily suppressed for decades, but the event gained wider public recognition after surviving family accounts surfaced. In 2008, a permanent highway marker was unveiled in Swan Valley to commemorate the tragedy. His preserved files remain kept at the University of Montana Mansfield Library as the Charles B. Peyton Collection.
The image shows seven men, various Winchester or Browning lever action rifles, Mountain Goat, Buffalo, Moose, Deer, Deer, Antelope and Mountain Lion hides as well as various skulls, pack saddles, saddles, hatchet axes, traps, rigging, paniers, ammo belts and more. A truly iconic and historic image. This is a large format original photograph of a panoramic size developed in two images and hand written on the back. Overall the image is 14 1/8-inches by 5 7/8-inches. Frame is 20.75-inch by 12.75-inch.