More on lead in MN

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1. new text beginWORKSHOPS AND OUTREACH TO PROTECT RAPTORS FROM
LEAD POISONING; APPROPRIATION.new text end
new text begin $133,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the environment and natural resources
trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Raptor Center, in
cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources and other conservation partners, to
provide hunters with outreach and workshops on alternatives to lead ammunition for hunting,
including copper ammunition as an alternative, and to promote voluntary selection of
nontoxic ammunition to protect raptors and other wildlife in Minnesota from accidental
lead poisoning caused by ingesting ammunition fragments. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2022

I haven’t shot lead shot at any upland or waterfowl since the 1900’s. I know some upland guys still use lead, but it ain’t worth the hassle for me to have steel and lead shot.

That being said I do use lead shot for deer hunting, but I can’t see one, maybe 2 bullets a year being a problem. I’d rather shoot the deer with my bow anyway.

I do have a few lead sinkers left though…

sticker wrote:

I haven’t shot lead shot at any upland or waterfowl since the 1900’s.

Im the same way. I don’t pheasant hunt much anymore since my dog died a few years ago but when I did I used steel shot. I figured if some ducks were in the drainage ditch or potholes I wanted to wack them to.

Carrying a SxS with non-toxic shot makes it simple for pheasant and duck.

I use lead for upland. It has a far better kill rate because it’s much denser than steel. I only hunt private land so I still have a choice and I choose to use what’s most effective. I also use it for turkeys and deer ammo, but like sticker said a couple rounds all year is the most I discharge during those seasons. I’ve obviously used steel for waterfowl for as long as I can remember.

I think this is stemming from a couple of swans that died recently from lead poisoning, more specifically from lead weights used in fishing tackle.

I switched to Barnes copper bullets in all of my muzzleloaders and that’s all I hunt deer with.

I haven’t figured out a way to cast copper jig heads yet so I’m still with the lead program in that court. No plans to change.

Lead all the way

I can’t possibly think of other more important things the government could be working on than the minuscule amount of lead sportsman leave behind unintentionally……

ajw wrote:

I can’t possibly think of other more important things the government could be working on than the minuscule amount of lead sportsman leave behind unintentionally……

Like changing the MN flag??? LOL

A few years ago I started shooting hevi shot (hevi metal and tungsten x) for waterfowl and even though it costs more per box i shoot less shells. No more cripples and no need to change to bb when the honkers come in. The coyote rounds are really impressive. If they ban lead for trap shooting that would be be disappointing. Bummer for the upland guys and the game farms too.

I wouldn’t mind completely switching to non-lead alternatives, as long as they made them cheaper. Seeing some non lead fishing gear would be nice as well