Last Chance to View & Comment on Proposed Hunting Regulation Issues

[huntrights]

This is your last chance to:

View & Comment on Proposed Hunting Regulation Issues and Alternatives
Deadline to comment September 22, 2014
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/

Take advantage of this opportunity to have your voices heard.  Note: You only have 1,000 characters available in the comment fields.

Please make sure you comment on one particularly troubling topic:
"General Issues - Non-Toxic Ammunition"

 

This topic appears to be setting the stage to ban traditional ammunition in Washington just as was recently done in California. However, the Golden Eagle is being used as the "poster child" in place of the California Condor.  The WDFW should present this subject in an honest and unbiased manner based on scientific facts and the actual conditions in Washington State.

The background information in the survey can strongly mislead the reader to believe high blood-lead levels in birds of prey are due to consuming spent lead from traditional ammunition.

Background Information given in the survey:
"A wide variety of birds may consume spent lead shot, resulting in increased mortalities and sublethal effects.  Birds of prey may ingest lead as they scavenge animals (e.g., deer) taken during hunting seasons.  In Washington, there is increasing evidence of lead consumption by golden eagles, a species of concern with low population levels (see Golden eagle ecology)."

Then what may guide the reader further down the path of believing traditional ammunition is the cause of high blood-lead levels in Golden Eagles is the link they provided to a webpage with a photo and chart that subliminally supports the blame on traditional ammunition.  The Raptor Ecology WDFW webpage (http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/raptor/golden_eagle_ecology/) has a photo of an eagle standing over what appears to be a dead deer and a chart of blood-lead levels of Golden Eagles in WA; the viewer may be misled to conclude the source of lead in eagles is from spent traditional ammunition from harvested deer during hunting season. However, the text on the webpage correctly states that the sources of lead contamination in Golden Eagles in Washington are unknown.  If the sources of lead are unknown, why are they pointing an accusing finger at traditional (metallic lead) ammunition?

There are many sources of bioavailable lead that are found in the environment.
“Unlike metallic lead, industrial lead compounds are highly soluble. … The solubility of lead is an important factor in determining the relative bioavailability of the substance in an organism. Bioavailability refers to the manner and ease with which a substance can pass into an organism (after ingestion, inhalation or dermal exposure) and reach the systemic circulation, eliciting a response in the body (i.e. lead poisoning). Soluble forms of compounded lead in industrial products, such as leaded paint, gasoline and pesticides, are readily absorbed in the body and increase blood-lead levels significantly. In other words, the lead in industrial lead compounds is soluble and can readily be absorbed within biological systems, making them bioavailable to humans, plants and animals, and potentially causing lead poisoning.” (http://www.huntfortruth.org/science/alternative-sources-of-lead-in-the-environment/).

Let's think about this.  How much of a deer or elk gut pile will a bird of prey actually consume?  How about the wolves, cougar, bear, coyotes, etc.  If a bird of prey does eat some of a gut pile, what are the chances they will eat that one piece of meat that might have a piece of metallic lead in it?  If they do get a tiny piece of metallic lead, just how bioavailable and soluble is it and will it cause lead poising and/or high blood-lead levels?  Let's not let Washington follow the path of the California anti-gun, anti-hunting, and animal-rights extremists. 

This is not to question the scientific ability of WDFW biologists; it is about how information has been presented that appears questionable and seems to direct people toward an agenda of banning traditional ammunition just as it was done in California. 

Why aren't we paying attention to the facts?
"5 Yr. Lead Ammo Ban Fails To Reduce Levels of Lead In Condors"
"- Despite a 99% compliance rate by hunters, there has been no reduction in condor lead posioning during the 5 years that the lead ammunition ban has been in place within the condor corridor."
http://www.huntfortruth.org/5-year-lead-ban-fails-to-reduce-blood-lead-levels-in-california-condors/

Here is another interesting article about the California Condor:
http://www.huntfortruth.org/californias-pet-condors-now-in-living-color-2/

And more interesting reading:
http://www.huntfortruth.org/?s=condor+lead+poisoning


By the way, there is more propaganda coming our way via this organization (http://www.mountainlion.org/us/wa/-wa-portal.asp); it appears they are greasing the skids for a California-style ban on cougar hunting.

They brag about extending their efforts in 16 states.  That is, they are spreading their propaganda in 16 states and plan on expanding further.

Be very aware of the many efforts to take away our hunting heritage and our 2nd Amendment rights.  Be sure you VOTE the right way this year.

[csaaphill]

done thanks JS. er huntrights even sorry thought it was jshuntrights maybe you changed it but thanks did this the other day good survey thing.
First time I've ever seen this kind of thing on that web site.
Question though how much will our/my opinions matter?
I mean will this count against those that goto the public meetign in Olympia or no?
but good stuff i gave them my  worth and then some.

[JimmyHoffa]

That California Condor comparison in before and after the lead ban for hunting in Condor zones (no change in lead levels) is convincing that ammo isn't the cause.  I find it tough to believe that enough lead is left in animal carcasses (both volume of all animals shot and amount retained in animals) by the time eagles get to them to give such a similar result of lead levels through out the populations.

[JimmyHoffa]

So, from reading around on the web; it appears that when the government required lead to be removed from gasoline they exempted the piston driven airplanes and helicopters fuel known as avfuel.  Avfuel is now the largest source of lead emissions in the US.  These smaller aircraft emissions fall back toward the ground, but get suspended and concentrated in thermal updrafts....the same updrafts that large birds like condors and eagles like to cruise in because it requires less energy for flight.
Here's some info on the fuel.
https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/avgas/

[huntrights]

Very interesting.  Leaded gasoline apparently has, and continues to leave highly soluble lead residues that can be absorbed or consumed by wildlife. 

http://www.huntfortruth.org/science/alternative-sources-of-lead-in-the-environment/leaded-gasoline/

 
It's amazing how the people and organizations pushing for the ban on traditional ammunition seem to ignore the many other sources of bioavailable soluble lead in the environment; that is, they ignore what doesn't support their agenda.  The primary pushers of the ban on traditional ammunition are anti-hunting and animal-rights organizations; their agenda is to destroy hunting.  It's no surprise they are attacking traditional ammunition (metallic lead).  Lead is lead to those that don't know about the various forms of lead and how soluble and bioavailable the various forms of lead may be; what a great way to mislead the unaware public and cut another piece out of our hunting heritage.

[csaaphill]

Ya when I came to that part of the survey I gave em an earfull.
Hope my voice will be heard on this for I chose some very different options than what I know status quoe people will.
like allowing modern season a bit longer season and 2pt permits in 3pt minimum areas. and to do away with weapons allocation go back to you can buy an archery tag modern tag and muzzy tag if wanted and can afford, but still allow one animal.
also to change this point system they have and go back to what it was.

[huntrights]

Thank you for participating in the survey.  Too many people think their single voice makes no difference; they are wrong.  The problem is when too many of our voices are silent; that is a guarantee that our voices will not be heard.

Speak up at every opportunity you have. 

Write and call your representatives.

Write and call agencies like the WDFW with your comments and concerns.  When a survey is open to the public, please participate and don't hold back your thoughts when you see things like the subliminal and manipulative suggestions that support the ban of traditional ammunition.

Words never spoken or written are words never heard or read.  Please do not be silent about supporting and defending our rights and freedoms.  We are the architects of our future if we get involved in the process.

[4fletch]

I have then two ear fulls. Probably never get drawn again