Punt gun

A punt gun was an exceptionally large shotgun used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries for commercial wildfowl hunting. These guns, also known as market guns, were too heavy to be fired from the shoulder and were instead mounted on a small boat called a punt.

Description:

Punt guns were typically single-barrelled and could have bore diameters exceeding 2 inches (51 mm). Some fired over a pound (0.45 kg) of shot at a single firing. The scale of these guns meant they were incredibly effective at killing large numbers of waterfowl at once, often dozens or even hundreds with a single shot.

Usage and History:

Market hunters employed punt guns to supply growing urban markets with wild game. They would silently maneuver their punts into flocks of resting waterfowl, discharge the gun, and then collect the dead birds. The practice was particularly prevalent in coastal areas and large lakes.

Legality and Decline:

The effectiveness of punt guns led to a rapid decline in waterfowl populations, raising concerns about conservation. Consequently, laws were enacted in many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, to restrict or ban their use. These regulations often limited the bore size of shotguns or prohibited their use altogether for commercial hunting. While some punt guns may still exist in private collections or be used in highly regulated circumstances (such as for research or wildlife management with specific permits), their era as a tool for widespread market hunting is long past. The decline of punt guns reflects a broader shift towards conservation efforts and sustainable hunting practices.