So in 50 years will we still be fishing with lead? 25 years? My point is that it’s going to change whether it’s about loons or toxicity. As tackle improves the industry isn’t going to keep using lead anymore then we use blocks of ice in our icebox’s at home. Technology will change. Lead shot, lead slugs, paint, gas, now batteries, wheel weights, the list in endless.
When the industry is ready and a 3/4oz non-lead jig doesn’t cost $9 a crack things will be different.
If the new replacement is EFFECTIVE and COST effective the transition would be seamless.
Right now it’s not…..so it won’t [be seamless]
When it is, I’ll be all for it and never look back.
But before we go crazy with the legislation: Remember, it’s really easy to ban something. It’s virtually impossible to “un-ban” something.
Right now there are 1.4 million licensed anglers in the state. If each angler had to replace 100 jigs at $5 each, it would cost $700,000,000.
If it saved 100 loons in the coming years, EACH loon’s life saved would be worth SEVEN MILLION dollars to the fisherman of Minnesota.
$7,000,000 for ONE bird.
What’s the restitution value that Minnesota puts on a Loon shot by a poacher? I can’t find a solid number specific to loons. But I’m guessing it’s sadly under $2,000 from what I saw for moose, lynx, etc. A far cry from millions.
Don’t you think we could spend that $700,000,000 on more effective things? I do, and I’m all for it.
Building nesting rafts
Purchasing Habitat
Protecting nesting areas
More buoys and signs in nesting areas
Building habitat
Educating boaters
Educating hunters
Etc
How much would a single nesting raft cost? Hundred bucks?
We could build a few handfuls for the better part of a billion dollars.
If we want more loons, we can do it pretty easily before the industry makes it feasible to transition to non-lead tackle.