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for Ban on lead shot
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Msg 1 Posted: 01:21 PM 12/26/06 (CST)
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More bans on lead shot coming, timing unclear
Wednesday, December 20, 2006 12:17 PM EST
By Joe Albert Staff Writer
St. Paul - At some point in time, shotgun hunters in the state won't be able to use lead shot while they're hunting.
It's unclear exactly when that may be, as a task force studying nontoxic shot regulations in the state urged the DNR to proceed with caution, but acknowledged that an all-out ban is inevitable.
'Most people in the agency that are knowledgeable about the issue would concur with that statement,' said Bill Penning, DNR farmland wildlife program leader. 'It might be five years or it might be 50 years, but it's coming.'
Penning was the DNR's liaison to the 11-member task force, which included sportsmen, conservationists, technical experts, representatives from the ammunition industry, and law enforcement. The group, created after roundtable meetings last January, met five times during the summer and issued its 70-page report last week.
The group supported the DNR's decision to ban the use of lead shot on dove fields. It also said the state should look to implement regulations that are more restrictive than current state and federal regulations, but the group didn't reach consensus on the extent of those regulations.
It did, however, suggest that the DNR could consider five methods for eliminating the use of lead shot in shotguns for:
•Dove hunting on all public and private land.
•All small-game species on public land in the farmland zone.
•All small-game species on public and private land in the farmland zone.
•All small-game species on all wildlife management areas.
•All small-game species on all private and public land.
'In my mind, the take-home message out of (the report) is lead is toxic, we want to be proactive, and that it is inevitable there will be restrictions,' Penning said.
The committee recommended that any regulations be simple, understandable, and enforceable, and also said any restrictions should be phased in so hunters and ammunition makers can adjust accordingly.
Lead has been banned for all waterfowl hunting since 1991, and is not allowed on federal waterfowl production areas. Minnesota banned the use of lead on its managed dove fields in 2006.
The first concern of Federal Cartridge Company, which was represented on the task force, is protecting the resource, according to Bill Stevens, the company's conservation manager.
'However, when regulating agencies seek to expand the use of lead-free ammunition to species other than waterfowl,' Federal's policy statement reads, 'the regulating agency should do so only after they have fully gathered and analyzed thorough, scientifically based, and fully documented evidence that establishes a direct connection to the health and welfare of the species in question.'
Steve Wilds, the regional migratory bird chief for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who served on the committee, said one thing that bothers people is 'there's no so-called smoking gun' that directly links lead ingestion with the death of birds like pheasants or ruffed grouse.
Still, 15 states have lead-shot restrictions that are tighter than federal regulations, and another nine states are discussing the issue.
'Mostly, the states I am aware of have kind of picked and chosen their spots, often where they are associated with wetlands,' Wilds said. 'More and more states are actually adding in a few wildlife management areas, or they are adding in species (such as) snipe and rails.'
Some hunters already have decided not to use lead shot, said Gordie Meyer, Minnesota Conservation Federation president.
'Most conscientious sportsmen realize (a ban) is going to happen over time,' said Meyer, who served on the task force. 'A lot of people now are using nontoxic shot for upland game hunting.'
There are viable alternatives to lead, and many of the early problems hunters experienced with nontoxic shot have been solved, but the DNR is unlikely to enact any new regulations right away, Penning said.
The issue will be discussed at DNR roundtable meetings in January, and there will be opportunities for public comment and discussion after that.
Wildlife officials also are thinking of surveying hunters to gauge their awareness of lead shot and willingness to accept restrictions, Penning said.
He expects the agency to spend at least a year looking at the issue, then enact regulations through the rule-making or legislative process.
Catch'n Kids Pro Staff
http://www.bucketrack.com/THEJig.html
IF IT'S WET...IT'S CATCH'N FISH
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Msg 3 Posted: 06:49 AM 12/27/06 (CST)
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So whats next lead free for deer hunting too ?
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Msg 4 Posted: 07:20 AM 12/27/06 (CST)
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This might be a dumb question, but what about shooting trap??? Will the same rules apply?
MyFishingPals
Gotta Run
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Msg 7 Posted: 04:18 PM 12/27/06 (CST)
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It's volentary here Kevin.They decided to try to educate instead of making it law.
Catch'n Kids Pro Staff
http://www.bucketrack.com/THEJig.html
IF IT'S WET...IT'S CATCH'N FISH
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