Originally Posted By: Sliver
This is the abstract of the Keel study, the first of the last list:

"Abstract. We estimated total lead shotshell pellets expended,
resultant pellet availability near soil surface, and the frequency
of pellet ingestion by northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)
attributable to nearly a quarter century of bobwhite hunting on
a 202-ha upland habitat at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon
County, Florida. A total of 7,776 shots were fired, resulting in
the expenditure of approximately 4.5 million pellets ( 22,519/
ha). Sixteen of 235 (6.8%) soil samples collected in 1989 and
1992 contained one or two pellets. Soil samples indicated that
approximately 7,800 pellets/ha (about 35% of the projected
24-year deposition) were within 2.54 cm of the soil surface.
Pellet ingestion by bobwhites was evaluated by examining 241
gizzards collected from 1989–92. Three bobwhites (1.3%) had
ingested pellets (x  1.3 pellets). No instances of suspected
lead poisoning were noted in bobwhites over the 24-year period.
Sport hunting of wild bobwhite populations on upland
habitats appears to produce a low potential for lead poisoning
compared to lead deposition in association with waterfowl and
dove hunting."


Kinda makes you wonder whether Ben actually READS the research he posts, doesn't it? Like I said earlier, tossing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. Tall Timbers, which is like a preserve in terms of shot fall . . . 1.3% of 241 birds ingested lead. And that last sentence is pretty much the same thing MT FWP admitted in their document--even though they're pushing for further lead restrictions.

Restricting lead for upland hunting in areas not frequented by waterfowl is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.