WDFW Fact Sheet: Hunters reminded that nontoxic shot required in some wildlife areas

FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

February 2008

Hunters reminded that nontoxic shot
required in some wildlife areas

Nontoxic shot has been required for waterfowl hunting in many parts of western Washington since 1986, and on all areas of the state since 1991. In addition, the possession of shot other than nontoxic shot has been prohibited on several wildlife areas. Rules requiring possession of only nontoxic shot are now in effect for the following wildlife areas:

Western Washington:

Cowlitz Wildlife Area – all segments
Skagit Wildlife Area – all segments
Shillapoo Wildlife Area
Snoqualmie Wildlife Area – all segments
Vancouver Lake Wildlife Area
Whatcom Wildlife Area – all segments

Eastern Washington:

Sinlahekin Wildlife Area - Driscoll Island, Hegdahl, and Kline Parcel segments
Sunnyside Wildlife Area – all segments
Wells Wildlife Area - Bridgeport Bar segment

On some western Washington lands under agreement with WDFW, the use of shot other than nontoxic shot is prohibited when hunting game species. Rules requiring use of only nontoxic shot when hunting are now in effect for the following areas:

Chehalis River pheasant release site
Chinook pheasant release Site
Dungeness Recreation Area
Hunter Farms pheasant release site
Raymond Airport pheasant release site
Whidbey Island - all pheasant release sites

Problems with lead shot. Problems with the use of lead shot were discovered by extensive testing during the 1970s and 1980s. This resulted in a phasing out of lead shot as an allowable waterfowl load from 1986 to 1991. Waterfowl can die if they eat even very small amounts of spent lead shot. Swans are the most visible evidence of lead poisoning, due to their habit of feeding deep within wetlands that have lead pellets still remaining from past hunting seasons. Lead-poisoned ducks and other birds carrying embedded lead shot also are known to cause poisoning in other species. For example, bald eagles and other raptors can be poisoned by feeding on other wildlife carrying or containing lead shot.

Identifying problem areas. Through monitoring, problems with lead shot have been discovered in some western Washington pheasant-release sites that also are waterfowl feeding areas. For example, soil sampling at Skagit Wildlife Area yielded an estimated 6.8 tons of lead. Sampling lead pellet densities in soil and waterfowl tissues is considered by wildlife and habitat biologists to be the best way to identify problem areas, but these methods are labor intensive, expensive and sometimes difficult to interpret. Not all sites present potential problems. However, the above sites were converted to nontoxic shot use based on a high potential for ingestion of lead by wildlife; for example, where waterfowl use sheet water or flooded grain fields.

Hunter concerns about nontoxic shot. Hunters have voiced concerns about cost, effectiveness and shotgun barrel damage in using nontoxic shot. This is what we know about these areas of concern:

Cost: Alternatives to lead shot are more expensive -- particularly newer alternatives, which can cost more than $2 a shell. However, steel shot prices have declined and are approaching those of lead shot. Prices of newer alternatives are expected to decline as new types become more widely available.
Steel performance: In numerous shooting tests, wounding loss from the use of steel shot has been scientifically shown to be no different from that of lead. Poor performance of steel often is related to mismatched load/choke combinations and exceeding the effective range of loads. Several of the new alternatives have ballistics properties similar to lead, helping to reduce concerns about effectiveness.
Barrel damage: Fears about barrel damage from nontoxic shot have not been substantiated for the vast majority of shotguns. Hunters should check with shotgun manufacturers to be certain.

Further assessment. The Commission has directed staff to prepare a report assessing the effects of lead shot on wildlife and identify other situations where nontoxic shot restrictions may be necessary. This report can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/nontoxicshotfinal.htm.

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