Rookie hunter question?

I’m brand new to the hunting game so bear with me…

I bought some shotgun shells to shoot out of my new toy. How exactly do I tell what type of shot they are? The #2 and #4 shells were plainly marked as steel. The #6 and #8 said nothing.

if they are not marked they are most likely lead. The best way to tell for sure is to take a magnet and check them. You can do the magnet test on the shells you know are steel and then compare to the ones you are not sure of. Do not go into the field hunting if you are not sure what you have – especially if you are hunting waterfowl.

Good luck

Hmm… Magnet. I wish I woulda thought of that.

So if I’m at the store they should be clearly marked as steel shot?

Cabela’s has a primer on non-toxic shotshells at http://www.cabelas.com/product/Non-Toxic-Shot-Buyers-Guide/532009.uts

I like the Heavi-shot in spite of its cost, but also use steel loads for waterfowl.
A trip out to the pattern board with whatever gun, chokes, and shells you choose is well worth the effort.
PJM

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Hmm… Magnet. I wish I woulda thought of that.

So if I’m at the store they should be clearly marked as steel shot?

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Maybe. Or they will say “non-toxic”.

I HIGHLY doubt the 6 and 8 shot is steel. These are almost certainly lead as it would be very rare to see steel in these small shot sizes and I’m not sure a steel 8 shot has ever been made.

In most stores, you’ll find the non-toxic/waterfowl shot all grouped together and then the lead shot in another section.

Grouse

So what would a guy use to shoot at doves on dnr managed land?

It should be marked steel. The magnet works too. Yes they make steel in the smaller sizes as many ranges are starting to require it. Also game preserves too.

You will find small steel shot out there. Dove hunting requires steel or non-toxic shot and there is plenty of #7 and #8 steel for both dove hunting and trap shooting.

Yes, steel shot and or non-toxic shot should be clearly marked on the box and in all cases I have seen also on the shell. That being said, it can be hard to read or wear off the side of the hulls.

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You will find small steel shot out there. Dove hunting requires steel or non-toxic shot and there is plenty of #7 and #8 steel for both dove hunting and trap shooting.

Yes, steel shot and or non-toxic shot should be clearly marked on the box and in all cases I have seen also on the shell. That being said, it can be hard to read or wear off the side of the hulls.

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Doves can be shot with lead as far as I can tell from the regs?

T

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Doves can be shot with lead as far as I can tell from the regs?

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I agree. Unless you’re hunting on federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), lead is fine for doves.

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Doves can be shot with lead as far as I can tell from the regs?

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I agree. Unless you’re hunting on federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), lead is fine for doves.

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From page five of the Wisconsn 2013 Small Game Hunting Regulations.

It is illegal to:
” hunt mourning dove with lead or other toxic shot while on DNR Managed lands”

Wish it wasn’t so, but rules is rules.

Oops! I didn’t take note that you are from WI. We can use lead on doves in MN.

Thanks for all the help gentlemen.

Most of the time any shot #4 or bigger is for waterfowl therefore steel shot or something non-toxic. Anything smaller is going to be lead. They usually don’t say lead shot on the box maybe something like target load. Anything non-toxic will say so on the box also if its way more expensive its most likely non-toxic.