For you more traditional upland bird hunters that travel to Montana each fall, the following may be of interest:
Excerpted from the 'Big Sky Upland Bird Association's (BSUBA) Summer 2008 Newsletter'
"Study Lead Phase-out for Upland Hunting, Resolves" MWF
"The Montana Wildlife Federation, at their annual meeting in April passed a resolution introduced by BSUBA (Big Sky Upland Bird Assoc.) proposing that the Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks study the impact of phasing-out the use of lead shot for upland bird hunting.
Other states have been studying similar limits on the use of lead shot, having found that some direct poisoning of upland birds can occur directly when pellets are eaten for grit, and some secondary poisoning in birds of prey and ravens scavenging on dead upland birds.
Recent increases in the cost of lead shot are making many non-toxic shot products comparably priced to premium lead game loads.
The resolution does not address the use of lead shot for target shooting or rifle bullets. Many tribal lands and federal refuges already prohibit the use of lead shot for hunting of either waterfowl or upland birds."
'BSUBA' is a Missoula-based conservation group that is leading the charge for this lead 'phase-out' study. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in contrast to Minnesota's recent efforts and no doubt will largely be determined by whether the science will be agenda-driven or truly 'objective' and free of speculation. Time will tell, I suppose.....
Rob Harris
Conner, MT
BSUBA can be reached for comment by writing to P.O. Box 9005, Missoula, MT 59807
Dennis Daneke, Pres.
Tom Deveny, Sec. Treas.
Ben Deeble. Past Pres.
Bob Lucas, MWF Rep.
