Lead & Wildlife

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Introduction to Lead & Wildlife

In 1991, the use of lead shot for waterfoul hunting was officially prohibited in the U.S. Canada soon followed suit and banned lead shot when hunting all migratory game birds.

Lead has long been prized for its ease of use in both hunting and fishing. Ammunition made with lead bullets are relatively inexpensive as are lead sinkers attached to fishing line. However, In the past 30 years, studies of lead toxicity have raised concerns in regards to lead as a leading cause of mortality to waterfoul, upland game, scavengers, and other wildlife. Lead makes its way into these species by directly consuming shot, bullets, and fragments in fields, wetlands, ranges, and by consuming carcasses containing lead.

The primary danger from lead ammunition and tackle is that it can remain stable for extended periods of time. It isn’t only toxic when it’s ingested, but it can also degrade and be taken up by plants and animals, working its way into multiple unsuspecting species. The effects of lead poisoning can cause multiple problems including:

Organ and tissue damage
Reproductive system damage
Neurological damage
Suppressed immune system
Paralysis & Death

Several alternatives to lead ammunition and fishing tackle have been developed in the recent years. Nearly all shotgun gauges, modern rifle and pistol cartridges, and fishing tackle is available in non-lead options. For further information on where to find non-lead ammunition, visit- www.huntingwithnonlead.org.

PDXWildlife Non-Lead Ammo Exchange Results

PDXWildlife previously offered a ammunition exchange, based on available donations. Our first exchange took place at the Collector’s West Gun & Knife show in Vancouver, WA. During the show, we spoke to many interested parties and were able to conduct a survey based on the type of ammo used and the purchase location. Here are the results-

Lead vs. Non-Lead Ballistic Gel Test

In order to understand the effect that a lead vs. a non-lead bullet will have upon a target, you have to fire each round into something that allows you to see the impact. Ballistics gel, which is available on Amazon.com, can be very costly. Alternatively, there are recipes all over the internet which allow anyone to make their very own for as little as $30.00. The recipe that I chose to go with was from Custom Cartridge (click link). I chose to make two molds, each about the size of a shoebox. After each mold had hardened, I picked up two boxes of ammo for my .30-06, one lead cored and the other lead free, and headed to the woods to see the difference each would have. Click on the video below to see the whole process and the exciting conclusion.

https://youtu.be/ElHxM3E_8jA

The ingredients that I used to make the Gel-