Where did bounty hunting start?

Bounty hunting has its origins in ancient civilizations, but it became particularly prominent in the United States during the 19th century. The practice was formalized with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which allowed bounty hunters to capture escaped slaves. This era saw the rise of bounty hunting as a profession, especially in the Wild West, where law enforcement was often sparse, and private individuals took on the responsibility of apprehending fugitives for financial rewards.