Episode Details

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Few books have shaped the understanding of waterfowl history like The Outlaw Gunner.

In this episode, host Katie Burke sits down with Joe Walsh, son of legendary author Dr. Harry M. Walsh, to discuss one of the most influential books ever written about Chesapeake Bay waterfowling and market hunting.

Joe shares stories about his father’s life, his deep connections to the Eastern Shore watermen and market gunners, and the passion that drove him to preserve their stories before they were lost forever. The conversation explores everything from punt guns and battery guns to sink boxes, gunning lights, and the unique culture that developed around waterfowling on the Chesapeake.

The discussion also highlights Harry Walsh’s role in preserving waterfowling heritage, his early collecting efforts, his relationship with Ducks Unlimited, and the conservation ethic that ultimately emerged from witnessing the decline of waterfowl populations and traditional hunting communities.

Topics Covered

• The story behind The Outlaw Gunner
• Harry Walsh’s life and conservation legacy
• Market hunting on the Chesapeake Bay
• Punt guns, battery guns, and sink boxes
• Gunning lights and historical hunting methods
• Eastern Shore waterfowling culture
• Preserving hunting heritage through collecting
• The origins of the Waterfowl Festival
• How conservation ethics evolved over time

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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