western pheasant question

[MP123]

I just shoot steel at everything.  It's legal everywhere and I don't have to worry about my pattern changing or how far to lead the birds depending on what I'm shooting.  It seems to kill birds pretty dead too.  I'm very far from a tree hugger but there's a reason they outlawed lead shot on public lands.

All that said I think you are legal to shoot lead on private land.

[mackayverd]

MP123,

Could you enlighten us as to what the "reasons" are for no lead shot on public lands?

Bald eagles are flourishing while most are still using lead, and I don't think the issue is settled.  I don't think we should buy into stories without the science.

Jerry Brown has now outlawed lead in California.  It is far superior to steel and especially important for denser patterns in quail and chukar hunting. 

I shot fourteen times tonight at quail this evening.  Too embarrassed to tell how many I had to clean.  But that is
a lot of money if I shoot steel, and I believe lead shot, on the side of a chukar and quail hill,  is harmless.  I am open for learning if you have evidence that it harms wildlife in the uplands.

[Stilly bay]

The whole steel shot is too expensive routine doesn't hold much water anymore. steel isn't that much more expensive than lead unless all you shoot is crap walmart promo loads which aren't all that much more superior than steel to begin with.There are steel quail and doves loads going $7.99. Run of the mill federal lead shot goes for around $5,$6, or even $7.
 steel doesn't sound that much more expensive to me even if I was blasting a box or two a trip.

All I shoot is steel anymore. In many of the areas I hunt it is required, in areas that it isn't required why would I want to switch to lead and change something that has been working so well for me? I have never felt it was a handicap in 12 gauge. If I am going sub-gauge then thats a different story.

[johnnyaustin44]

I hear what you're saying stilly..... the main reason I was asking was that I was going to use my 20 gauge which is only capable of shooting 2 3/4" shells. Tough to find steel shot in 20 gauge 2 3/4" most of the time. Managed to get some heavy metal in # 5 shot. Figured I would play it safe in case I jumped some ducks. Thanks for the input.

[Tiger1358]

Is it legal for me to use lead shot on the west side for pheasants if I'm hunting private property and not a release sight ?

You're right...lead is always better than steel..no doubt

[akirkland]

I'd just rather not have mixed ammo.

Maybe you guys shoot more than I do also.  I typically get about 1-2 shots off per trip for westside pheasant.  I'm only shooting if my dog points, not if he flushes.

The $10 I could save over the course of the year isn't worth the stress of making sure I'm not mixing my lead/steel shot.

But that's just me.

Curtis

$10 a year in savings? You dont shoot many birds, do you? I would ude lead as often as possible. Its performance trumps steel or its siblings.

[Bmcox86]

I would never use steel if I didn't have too. Steel is responsible for crippling more birds than any other factor, it's ok on release  sites where the birds are waiting to be killed and not running 20 yards before they fly. I don't know, I just don't dump ammo in my vest so I'm not worried about mixing it up.  That cheap steel at Walmart also sucks, I patterned it at 30 yards and all it was was giant holes and hit the board with no velocity. Shoot that at birds and your asking for cripples.

[Stilly bay]

I would never use steel if I didn't have too. Steel is responsible for crippling more birds than any other factor, it's ok on release  sites where the birds are waiting to be killed and not running 20 yards before they fly. I don't know, I just don't dump ammo in my vest so I'm not worried about mixing it up.  That cheap steel at Walmart also sucks, I patterned it at 30 yards and all it was was giant holes and hit the board with no velocity. Shoot that at birds and your asking for cripples.

hunters are responsible for crippling birds, not the shotgun shells. if you pattern your gun, practice with the load you are hunting with ( instead of cheap lead shells everyone) then you will know exactly what you can or can't do with steel shot before you try to kill something with it, thus avoiding cripples.

I have patterned 2 3/4" #6 steel winchester xperts ($8.00 a box I think, under $10 for sure) and they threw a really nice pattern at 30 out of an IC choke ( more like a Mod or Improved mod pattern because steel patterns so much tighter than lead) after 35 yards the pattern started falling apart.

With all the different types of nontoxic shot options, gone are the days of just grabbing a box and going hunting. IMO you really need to pattern different loads before you cripple a couple limits worth of birds to find out what you were shooting wasn't working for your gun.

[AspenBud]

Given a choice I will always choose lead. More weight = more inertia = more likely a dead bird.

I really feel steel is a cripple creator, but that's why you use man's great conservation tool, a bird dog, to recover them.

Some of the other non-tox options work better, but they'll also make your wallet significantly lighter.

[Stilly bay]

I really feel steel is a cripple creator, but that's why you use man's great conservation tool, a bird dog, to recover them unless you have an EP.

So is a 28gauge if you don't use it in the manner a 28 gauge should be used.

Use steel as it should be used and birds will hit the ground just as dead as they were killed with lead shot, they won't even know the difference.
If that means you can't take a 60 yard shot, then so be it, lead and steel are not the same and never will be, but at least you won't have cripples and you won't be spending $40 for ten shells.

Just don't blame the shells for cripples, they are one hundred percent on you as the person making the decision to pull the trigger.

[wildweeds]

Have not had trouble myself with .410,hevishot 4's and 6's and good solid points where I FLUSH the bird.I've chicken ticketed alot in the last 30 years and can say I've seen very very few instances of handlers flushing birds over pointing dogs.

[Stilly bay]

Have not had trouble myself with .410,hevishot 4's and 6's and good solid points where I FLUSH the bird.I've chicken ticketed alot in the last 30 years and can say I've seen very very few instances of handlers flushing birds over pointing dogs.

 

Most of the time the only ones I see that get flushed like that are the ones I flush my self.

Hevishot packs a wallup and is IMO one of the few options for sub gauge non-toxics. I use it in my 28ga and have killed every duck I shot at that was under 40 yards.
Steel shot is a 12gauge game mainly, I haven't found a load I like in 16 or 20 gauge yet, sans some 3" 20 gauge loads but if you have to go to 3" 20 gauge you might as well shoot a 12 if you have one.