
U.S. Chief Inspector of Hunting George A. with a confiscated 10.9-inch and 250-pound rifle that was used to hunt ducks. 1920. A punt gun is a type of extremely large shotgun used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for shooting large numbers of waterfowl for commercial harvesting operations and private sport. A single shot could kill over 50 waterfowl resting on the water’s surface. The Tale of George A. and the Giant Rifle In 1920, Chief Inspector of Hunting George A. Thompson lived in Millbrook, Illinois. Known for his strict enforcement of wildlife laws, George was dedicated to protecting migratory birds. One day, he received a tip about illegal duck hunting. Upon reaching the marsh, George heard an unusually loud gunshot. He discovered a monstrous rifle—10.9 inches in diameter and weighing 250 pounds—being used to hunt ducks. It was not unusual for such a band of hunters to acquire as many as 500 birds in a single day. In the United States, this practice depleted stocks of wild
Post: 9 October 23:00