Non-toxic shot for pheasants on release sites?

[Dave Workman]

Anybody know anything about this?

[10Key]

Starting in 2011, that is the requirement. What else do you want to know?

[Old Dog]

Yep, on all state owned lands.  On private property you may still use lead.  It's very similar to what South Dakota has required for a few years now.

[chrisb]

Starting in 2011, that is the requirement. What else do you want to know?

Been that way for a couple of years IIRC. At least on the Wetside.

[10Key]

Yep, westside has been for a while. EWA was included as of 1/1/2011 I believe

[h2ofowlr]

Most state land that had not gone that way did last year in 2010. 

[Wenatcheejay]

What, are there a bunch on condors that have mysteriously appeared on the Eastside? Swans up Swakane? Just another example of the desire of the growing trend to legislate hunting out of existence. Yet another species I will no longer hunt. (Pay to Play sounds better and better.) What is sad is I am finding it harder and harder to justify spending money for licences and tags. I read the desire of the NGO's that control our Wildlife have the intentions of creating hunters who will pay ($1000.00's?) to enjoy the "aesthetics" of the outdoors and the "spirit" of hunting and not be concerned with game in the freezer, (paraphased.) But hey, one more reason to not by a Discovery Pass! That's one good thing.

[lokidog]

WI required non-toxic on state hunting areas that included wetlands at least thirty years ago. 

It does make it easier/legal to shoot a duck while pheasant or quail hunting if you happen to jump one though.

[BurleyDog]

I only carry steel anyhow because I often jump shoot ducks as well.

[lokidog]

Shooting more steel/non-toxics will make everyone a better shot with them.

[chrisb]

Shooting more steel/non-toxics will make everyone a better shot with them.

They do seem to lack the knock down power of lead.

[singleshot12]

Release pheasants fall dead from the sound of the shot sometimes i swear, no.4 steel is fine for up to 40-50 yrds

Wild pheasants on the other hand need heavy-shot

[lokidog]

Shooting more steel/non-toxics will make everyone a better shot with them.

They do seem to lack the knock down power of lead.

So use number four steel if you usually use lead 6's.  They are usually faster at close range, so shorter leads.  I grew up using steel on ducks (1976 was my first year hunting), when I first moved west, I was happy to use cheaper lead shot.  After crippling many ducks with lead, I changed to steel and did not lose another cripple the rest of the season.  The reason being not that steel is "better" than lead but it is what I was used to shooting.  The problem is that because of the increase in cost, most people do not shoot steel as often as they should to get really good with it.  BTW, I am not saying I am a hugely expert shot but I knew what I could do with the steel and kept my shots within those perameters.  Mostly anyways....   

Sorry to thread jack.

[Andrew]

Yep, on all state owned lands.  On private property you may still use lead.  It's very similar to what South Dakota has required for a few years now.

I don't think its all State land...I thought it was only land designated as wildlife areas.   

[Wenatcheejay]

I am with the NRA on this subject. This "Ban" is strait out of the HSUS playbook. The studies are from the Center for Biological Diversity. Their goal is to strip rights a slice at a time. $120,000,000 a year is spent on it. (At least) Granted, this is Washington State, how hunters have held on this long still amazes me, but they about have us in our "death roar."  This amounts to another gouge, a $2 per shot gouge. Good job, well played anti's. You actually have many of us believing you have our interests at heart.