Ruffed grouse hunting sucks in South Dakota, but, point taken. The number of small game hunters VS deer hunters in MN makes the big game guys more important to the DNR. I expect that includes out of state licensees.
My alarm bells started going off when the new dove season was steel shot only. I've never hunted doves, don't consider MN prime habitat for them, and noted that the areas where people were hunting them are prime pheasant locations. A DNR toehold was firmly established.
Non toxic only will reduce the numbers of hunters. Face it, most people don't take one or two big trips to a different state, and not hunt in their home state. Just the opposite, most hunting occurs on the home stomping grounds, with a little in other states to boot. I just won't be one of the guys who takes up monster truck mudding, or oil painting after it happens. It would be a mistake to think that what happens in MN, or any other midwestern state with a strong hunting culture, wouldn't happen soon after in the another.
Monkey see, monkey do when it comes to state level departments of government in this part of the world.
Another thing to consider, is, if the feds decide one fine day that woodcock were either a species of special concern, or endangered, it could indeed effect what loads you use on grouse, in any state woodcock migrate through. Hypothetical, at best, but, stranger things have happened.
Fact is, I'm non toxic ready now. Complaining about it doesn't help. I don't have my name in the order book for a new RBL 28 gauge, and that Tobin 16 with the new wood is a close as I'm going to get to a shotgun heirloom that can't be used with modern non toxic loads. I guess if I were Mr. Stokeld, I'd ask myself, "Can I buy that old double, pay to have the repair work it needs done to it, use it for the remainder of lead shot legal time we have, and be comfortable with it perhaps, at some time in the future, being worth a fraction of the money I have into it, or, worse, nothing, except to me?"
If the answer is yes, well, by all means. If the answer is no, then, start getting ready for a non toxic future, now. Hey, I have two doubles that were tough sells before this issue was being kicked around-they both feature lefthand stocks. I decided to restock them knowing full well I have more into them then would likely be returned in the future. One has to make those decisions sometimes. But, I'm not doing it again. The two I have are just enough for my situation, and they don't look bad with the collection of pumps in the safe. One of those doubles will eat steel, when the time comes. One, will be a wall hanger, I suppose. I'm OK with that.
Best,
Ted
