puntting

Rick L

Rick L

Well-known member
I was looking at the works of a late 1800's British photographer Peter Henry Emerson who published images of the Norfolk Broads

I thought you might like to see this one entitled "gunner working up to fowl"

Peter+Henry+Emerson.jpg


great lines on the boat
 
still legal

as are big bores - 8ga and up


I guess the thought is - if you are going to kill X number of ducks - what does it matter with what
 
Nice picture, thanks for sharing. I just finished reading The Outlaw Gunner which touched heavily on punt gun use. What a wild time that must have been.
 
As has already been pointed out, punt guns are still allowed in the UK. But very few wildfowlers still use them. It could be that as few as 20 wildfowlers still put their punts and big guns in the water currently. What is interesting about punt guns is the successful shots don't come around frequently. I have talked with punters who didn't kill a duck for an entire season. And the fellow I punted with in Northern Ireland largest shot with his punt gun was 31 ducks. He told me he had shot nearly 100 several times with a 12 bore while hunting from the shore. On one of the days I was with him I made a shot of 14 wigeon and teal. That is considered a good shot, or pull as they call it. His gun was one of the largest in the UK, being a double barrel that shot 16oz from each barrel. I only used one barrel for my shot. Prior to going to Northern Ireland, I went to England twice for punting. On the first trip the weather made it impossible to get out. On the second trip we didn't find any ducks for a good shot. Lastly, punting is dangerous, because the waters that they are used are coastal, and at times far from the shore. For example, on that second trip to England, we were about five miles out into the North Sea. To be honest, I wasn't all that happy about it, even though the water was calm. Over the years there have been deaths due to punting, and not just a few. In total, punting is much more than just shooting ducks with a cannon. Much more! I rate my one day in Northern Ireland at the near top of my waterfowling life. And feel very lucky I was able to do it. Best, Worth
 

Mr. Mathewson,

I was waiting for you to chime in, as I have read what you have written about your experiences with punt guns.

Thank you.


Best regards
Vince
 
Now that is some incredible insight you dont get at just any duck hunting website!
Thanks for sharing Worth!
 
I thought you may find this article on punt gunning to be of interest, from the March issue of the online Vintage Gun Journal:

https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/punt-gunning
 
Worth, do you have any info on classic rail boats. I am trying to build a rail boat from a 16' fiberglass fantail lunch hull. would like to have a swivel chair for the
Gunner will have after deck and polling platform, and forward deck and platform. I think it will be a classic looking boat.
Best: Bill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top