Friday, November 27, 2020

Rifled Barrels and Internal Combustion Engines


Rifled gun barrels (after 1860) and semi-automatic self-loading gun technology (after 1900) improved the accuracy and efficiency of guns. 

When new guns met the Model T, which allowed people to quickly access remote lands, the stage was set for wholesale destruction of wildlife, especially among top-end predators which are always relatively rare.

The good news is that legislators caught up, setting bag limits and seasons, and eventually banning or severely restricting the shooting of certain species. As a result, we have more deer, lion, wolf, bobcat, bald eagles, golden eagles, red fox, and coyote today than we did 50, 80, or even 100 years ago.

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