BAN OF TRADITIONAL AMMUNITION - WASHINGTON HUNTERS: LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!!!

[Fisherdave10]

I sent an E-mail.  So far my dad has had to purchase a new gun for steel shot and my brother will have to also.   

[huntrights]

Update from the NRA-ILA

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2012/02/washington-lead-shot-ban-on-pheasant-release-sites.aspx

"Washington: Lead Shot Ban on Pheasant Release Sites

Posted on February 13, 2012

Submit comments to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife!

Last September, we informed you about the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission’s (WDFW) overly broad ban on the use of traditional ammunition (lead ammunition) for all upland game hunting on all of the state’s pheasant release sites.  We also asked you to take part in the 2012-2014 hunting season-setting process by submitting public comment to the WDFW and Commission to request that they repeal this unfounded lead ammunition ban.

The NRA would like to thank all of you who participated in the first phase of the hunting season-setting process.  Unfortunately, the WDFW has ignored the NRA’s and your requests to repeal the ban.  The proposed rules for the 2012-2014 season can be found here; they range from new sections pertaining to night hunting and landowner hunting permits, to amending the code pertaining to archery requirements and the use of decoys - but the repeal of the lead ammunition ban is not among them!

Citizens have until Tuesday, February 21, to submit public comment regarding these proposed rules.  Please contact the WDFW and the Commission and respectfully express your disappointment that the WDFW ignored your requests to repeal the expanded lead ammunition ban (for all upland game on all pheasant release sites) and ask that they incorporate a repeal of this ban into their final recommendations.  Written comments may be e-mailed to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov or mailed to: WDFW Rules Coordinator; 600 Capitol Way North; Olympia, Washington 98501.

Thank you for your continued efforts and please check www.NRAILA.org for more updates on this important issue."

[dreamunelk]

There has been a ban in place on most WDFW sites for years.   Also we as sportsman should pay attention to the science on this one.  Best to realize that lead shot in some areas is bad news and gear up for an intelligent fight when  the antis go after lead bullets!

[AWS]

Having been in the Abatement industry I support the band.  I swithched to nontoxics a few years back for upland.  I hunt MT and SD and even they have lead bans on WPA and State Lands.

I load ITX and Nice Shot at $35-$40 per box of 25 for my older/vintage shotguns and hit the hardware stores and gunshops on my travels.  Picked up two 2 boxes of 20ga 3" #2 bismuth(50 rounds) for $60 in SD that should cover my goose needs for my Browning Superpose for a long time.

I sold off a couple of my older SXS Ithaca/SKB shot guns and picked up a nice english stocked 6# 20ga with choke tubes for high volume shooting where steel costs will be adventages.

Even my predator hunting is being done with nontoxics, I started using VG bullets when they started coming out and have swithched to the NBT Lead Frees in in my 6mm's, they are very accurate and effective on coyotes.  I will be starting to experiment with them in the 22-204 and 22-250 this year.

I'm not about to quit hunting just because of ammunition requirement chnages, I'm going to wotk with it.

Times are changing

[Wenatcheejay]

There has been a ban in place on most WDFW sites for years.   Also we as sportsman should pay attention to the science on this one.  Best to realize that lead shot in some areas is bad news and gear up for an intelligent fight when  the antis go after lead bullets!

There is a Bill proposed that would require WDFW to actually use science when making policy. That science also must show measurable benefit to justify restriction. There is zero evidence to justify a ban on upland bird hunting. A USDFW representative said that this is a step to ban all traditional ammunition last year and he agreed there is no science but it makes people feel good. It is an easy argument to say that lead is bad for you so we should outlaw it. THE EPA REJECTED THIS ARGUMENT! Science is not necessary we have the nonpartisan Center for Biological Diversity to protect us (cough), I mean sue us. The next step will be a ban for all upland bird hunting including private reserves, then big game, then shooting ranges. Like always, when it is finally something a person does care about they will want someone else to do something.

The NRA has laid out what to do, if people who read this will not take the time to protect their heritage we will get what we deserve. This is another unnecessary expense upon firearms. To argue that there are effective alternatives is not the point. It is unnecessary expense. I for one quit small game (bird) hunting last year. This year I will not buy a license. It is that simple. One can argue, "great more for me." I say, "Good Luck Have Fun." But don't ask for support as they put more and more bans on shooting areas, there will be fewer and fewer groups to support you.

[Goshawk]

At this point in time, I've no objection to using steel shot for all waterfowl and upland hunting; been doing that for many years already. That way, I don't have to recalculate different leads for different birds.

Dead eagles and other birds of prey from lead shot does our freedom to hunt more harm than we want...

[carver52]

Interesting to see both sides of this argument being supported.  Also interesting that most seem to think it is a bad deal to ban steel for upland hunting.  Those who can't kill a bird with steel should consider more time with clays or learn range estimation. It doesn't have to be a shoulder crunhing death ray load to be an efficient killer. And those who think lead isn't a threat to birds after the shot is fired should research the pintail, canvasback die off on Catahoula Lake in Louisiana in the 1970's, over 100K birds dead overnight.
Now, having said that, I too hate to see another effort to cripple our shooting sports more than it is already.  It is very frustrating to have to defend our sports from those who only hear the mass media dribble.

[wraithen]

What about all those guns that can't fire steel?

[Mr56Jeep]

What about all those guns that can't fire steel?

I'm always looking for an excuse to buy a new gun?

[wraithen]

You guys seem to take this a lot better than big game hunters would. I'm kind of impressed. And kind of sad at the same time.

[Wenatcheejay]

Big game is next and the shooting ranges. At some point most will care but it will be to late. People care about their species, sport, method, and location. I've learned that to expect the hunting world to ban together, it's a bit like a prayer.

I have given my input on the last round, what is amazing is even the USDFW personel (2011) agreed but said emotional input is more important in Washington. (It is true.) That is not good for us but I guess if we learn to feel emotions instead of thinking it will be OK.

We deserve everything we get. 

[Bean Counter]

Big game is next and the shooting ranges. At some point most will care but it will be to late. People care about their species, sport, method, and location. I've learned that to expect the hunting world to ban together, it's a bit like a prayer.

I have given my input on the last round, what is amazing is even the USDFW personel (2011) agreed but said emotional input is more important in Washington. (It is true.) That is not good for us but I guess if we learn to feel emotions instead of thinking it will be OK.

We deserve everything we get.

+1   

[Wenatcheejay]

The discussion will go like this:

The people of Washington have shown overwhelmingly that they they support a ban on Traditional Ammunition. They support it for Waterfowl as well as all Upland Game. They understand the need to protect Raptors. This brings us to the issue of Big Game Hunters who use Traditional Ammunition. Far to often wounded animals are left with toxic lead in their bodies. Even if an animal is killed the gut sac will have lead left in it. Predators that eat this will increase their chances of lead exposure. People who consume game meat are at risk of lead poisoning. Because of all this there will now be a ban on all Traditional Ammunition for Big and Small Game.

The hunting community through apathy and silence will support it.

Next:

Discharged lead from firearms has been shown to be toxic. The Traditional Ammunition has been banned on all Public Land to protect Natural Ecosystems. To protect the public from coming in direct contact as well as second hand lead exposure there is a ban on all Traditional Ammunition in Washington. This is for your safety and the safety of the Public.

[boneaddict]

God forbid one of them wolves eat a lead bullet.   I mean eat it in the traditional sense......



You are EXACTLY right.     Intelligently I could see it with waterfowl.    Less intelligently so for upland.   (like there is a shortage of raptors)  and extremely less intelligently so for big game.

[Wenatcheejay]

God forbid one of them wolves eat a lead bullet.   I mean eat it in the traditional sense......



You are EXACTLY right.     Intelligently I could see it with waterfowl.    Less intelligently so for upland.   (like there is a shortage of raptors)  and extremely less intelligently so for big game.

Soon the crime of using a lead bullet will be worse than the poaching fine.