Hello Rob:
Thanks for giving this resolution a higher profile.
For those of you that aren't aware, the MWF is a federation of small traditional rod and gun clubs spread across Montana who voted in favor of this resolution. They found it reasonable. I'll include the full text below so you can see what you think.
I see this as fundamentally an effort to immunize upland hunters against attacks by anti-hunting groups who might use lack of consideration of potential environmental impacts as one means for interrupting hunting seasons. Only if a "hard look" is taken at lead impacts in the environment, can one argue that impacts are minimal or mitigated.
Adopted Resolution
Whereas lead shot pellets are a traditional, common, and legal projectile for use in upland bird hunting in Montana; and
Whereas lead shot was banned in 1991 for all hunting of waterfowl nationwide, due to secondary poisoning of scavenging birds such as eagles and due to incidental poisoning of waterfowl ingesting spent pellets in wetlands;
Whereas lead pellets are often a preferred particle size for consumption by some birds as “grit,” and studies show that incidental poisoning of birds continues to occur in both wetland and upland environments due to both historical and current lead shot use;
Whereas lead shot is already prohibited from use on Montana’s waterfowl production areas, most federal wildlife refuges, and some state, private, and tribal lands;
Whereas upland birds, particularly pheasants are often hunted in Montana in wetlands and in shrinking locales offering liberal public access;
Whereas all modern shotguns are now engineered for the use of shotshells using steel shot, and other non-toxic ammunition alternatives are also available for vintage shotguns;
Whereas the efficacy and cost of most non-toxic shotshells for hunting is now comparable to the quality and cost of lead shotshells;
Whereas responsible hunters should always strive to minimize deleterious impacts to non-target species and habitats;
Whereas the use of non-toxic shotshells may be appreciated by some private landowners, and may protect the health of families eating large quantities of wild game;
Whereas the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Canada have already banned lead shot completely, and several U.S. states have enacted partial bans or are contemplating bans;
Now therefore, be it resolved that the MWF request the MDFWP to study the economic, social, environmental, and harvest impact of prohibiting the use of lead shot for all bird hunting in Montana.
