safe shot

[joe_dumy]

So at little bit confused about the lead restrictions. I don't hunt pheasant much but I hunt areas close to pheasant ranges. I have never seeked a pheasant while chukar hunting and don't real expect to see one. But I buy the pheasant loads and blow a bunch of money for no reason. I think.

So how far do you have to be from reasonable pheasant area to use normal loads.

What do you use in these combo areas void of pheasants.

[Mr56Jeep]

I just sucked it up and went all steel.  Sucks but it is, what it is and it will continue to be this way... I gave up on lead 100%

[bobcat]

If you are only hunting chukar, I would not buy anything but lead shot. Just be sure you know where the boundaries are of any pheasant release sites, and stay outside of those boundaries.

[joe_dumy]

Is there somewhere I can find clear boundaries.

[bobcat]

I would use DNR public land maps, and along with that, use a GPS so there's never any doubt as to where you are.

[Bob33]

Is there somewhere I can find clear boundaries.

The big game regulations have clear boundary descriptions.  What they don't have is a clear description of where you are.  GPS units are wonderful tools for that.

[BurleyDog]

I switched to all steel too...but I waterfowl hunt too.

I have shot a ton of different loads through my shotgun (toxic and nontoxic) and what I have learned is that for me theres really no significant difference between most of them. Because of that I usually just shoot the cheap stuff. I use modified choke and steel #6s for chuckar, quail and pheasant and do just fine.

One thing about boundaries is that I wouldn't want to accidentally walk through a non-toxic area with lead in my vest... that puts you and the gamie in a uncomfortable situation that I don't want to put either of us in.

[bobcat]

It would depend on where you hunt, but I know anywhere I would hunt chukar is not an area that I would have to be concerned with being anywhere near a pheasant release site where lead shot is not allowed.

[joe_dumy]

Where can I find a good map of pheasant zones.

Can I have lead shot in my truck if hunting a pheasant area. There are two areas where I zigzag a pheasant zone I think.  And if i happened to see a pheasant, quail or a bunny rabbit and I jumped out with a vest full of steelshot would I be ok with a truck full of lead shot.

Oh ya did I mention certain times of year I have to duck for the ducks and geese when hunting ridge tops along the Columbia.

[Bob33]

GoHunt has pheasant release sites information.

[bobcat]

You can have lead shot shells in your truck, that's not an issue. Now if you're going to have a chance at ducks or geese while chukar hunting then you will just have to use steel shot, there's no way around that.

So which Wildlife Area is it that is near your chukar hunting area?

You know what you might do is try to get a hold of the manager for that area and find out where the boundaries are. There probably is a map of it on the WDFW site as well. Try doing a Google search for it. A lot of times they will pdf maps of the Wildlife Areas and those should be really helpful to you in determining boundaries.

[wildweeds]

I had lead shells in my truck for a 20 gauge,and got read the riot act for it on a westside release site............I asked the warden to try to put those yellow shells in my CZ .410.The funny part was he helped himself to the cab of my truck while I was putting my dog away in the topper box,I turned to see nothing but legs and feet as he was rooting around in the cab.He said he could give me a ticket for every lead shell in the truck,I had two boxes of AA's for skeet shooting,and 1 box of Federal premium copper plated 5's from South Dakota phesant trip.I had 2 boxes of .410 classic doubles hevi-shot,one in the truck and one in my vest.The guy was really a jerk about it IMO.He did kind of sheepish when I asked where his warrant was for searching the front of the truck,I had no birds,nor did I execute a violation,I was loading my dog in the truck to go home after an hour of armed dog walking at 3:30 in the afternoon on a sunny day.

You can have lead shot shells in your truck, that's not an issue.

[Bob33]

I had lead shells in my truck for a 20 gauge,and got read the riot act for it on a westside release site............I asked the warden to try to put those yellow shells in my CZ .410.The funny part was he helped himself to the cab of my truck while I was putting my dog away in the topper box,I turned to see nothing but legs and feet as he was rooting around in the cab.He said he could give me a ticket for every lead shell in the truck,I had two boxes of AA's for skeet shooting,and 1 box of Federal premium copper plated 5's from South Dakota phesant trip.I had 2 boxes of .410 classic doubles hevi-shot,one in the truck and one in my vest.The guy was really a jerk about it IMO.He did kind of sheepish when I asked where his warrant was for searching the front of the truck,I had no birds,nor did I execute a violation,I was loading my dog in the truck to go home after an hour of armed dog walking at 3:30 in the afternoon on a sunny day.

You can have lead shot shells in your truck, that's not an issue.

He doesn't need a warrant, but it sounds like he overreacted.

[bobcat]

I had lead shells in my truck for a 20 gauge,and got read the riot act for it on a westside release site............I asked the warden to try to put those yellow shells in my CZ .410.The funny part was he helped himself to the cab of my truck while I was putting my dog away in the topper box,I turned to see nothing but legs and feet as he was rooting around in the cab.He said he could give me a ticket for every lead shell in the truck,I had two boxes of AA's for skeet shooting,and 1 box of Federal premium copper plated 5's from South Dakota phesant trip.I had 2 boxes of .410 classic doubles hevi-shot,one in the truck and one in my vest.The guy was really a jerk about it IMO.He did kind of sheepish when I asked where his warrant was for searching the front of the truck,I had no birds,nor did I execute a violation,I was loading my dog in the truck to go home after an hour of armed dog walking at 3:30 in the afternoon on a sunny day.

That's not right, he has no business rooting through all the stuff in the cab of your truck. Must be another anti-hunting game warden, otherwise why would he be so gung-ho on trying to get someone for using lead shot, when they clearly were not? Again, wasting our tax dollars on frivolous stuff instead of busting real poachers.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

This page has the release maps. 
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/nontoxic_shot/

Here's the link for the Eastern WA sites
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00884/wdfw00884.pdf

They show the general area but not real good boundaries.  If you are on the eastside and go to some of the Corps HMU's you can get pretty good maps here.
http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/OFFICES/PA/FactSheets.asp