From AZGFD, 9/6/13:
Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death in condors and the main obstacle to a self-sustaining population in Arizona-Utah. A number of scientific studies collectively provide strong evidence to support the hypothesis that spent ammunition is the primary source of lead exposure in condors. Condors ingest the lead fragments from carcasses and gut piles.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department started offering free non-lead ammunition in 2005 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condors core range, which includes Game Management Units 12 A/B and 13A. Annually 80 to 90 percent of hunters take measures to reduce the amount of lead available to condors by using non-lead ammunition or removing lead-tainted gut piles from the field.
Emphasis added. Note the high level of
voluntary compliance in AZ.
