Thought you guys may like to see this...
http://www.startribune.com/531/story/879359.htmlLead shot increasingly under fire
It apparently is a matter of time before the toxic substance is restricted for upland hunters. The Department of Natural Resources is examining and weighing the results of a citizens' committee report as it considers the matter.
By Doug Smith, Star Tribune
Should lead shot, a toxic substance already banned for waterfowl hunters since 1991, also be banned for upland hunters? An 11-member citizens committee recently examined the issue for the Department of Natural Resources and last week released its 70-page report. Bill Penning, DNR farmland wildlife program leader and liaison to the group, discusses the issue.
Q Why was the committee formed?
A There's a lot going on on the national level right now. Numerous states are discussing implementing nontoxic shot regulations above and beyond existing federal regulations for waterfowl. Some, like South Dakota, already have done that. Lead shot there is banned on almost all public lands. We know it's toxic to humans and wildlife. Missouri studies show it's killing doves. It's an impor- tant issue that merits public discus- sion.
Q In Minnesota, lead shot for upland hunting is legal on state wildlife management areas but illegal on federal waterfowl production areas, which can cause confusion -- and citations -- for hunters. Did this situation help spur the discussions?
A Well, we do have state and federal areas that often are adjacent, which can be a problem. But the evidence and need for this has been building. We decided it was time to be proactive.
Q What was the group's goal?
A They were charged with coming up with recommendations. Everything was on the table, from taking no action to a total ban on lead shot. They didn't come up with one final recommendation saying, "DNR, this is what we think you should do." But we got some very useful information.
Q What did they recommend?
A They agreed unanimously that the DNR should regulate lead shot on managed public dove fields, which we did last year. And they said the DNR ultimately should implement some regulations that are more restrictive than current state and federal regulations.
Q The group also agreed on seven principles [see accompanying story], including that lead shot inevitably will have to be restricted for all shotgun hunting at some time in the future. That's a very blunt statement.
A It is. Everybody agreed to it. But how long that will take is open to debate. Some think it will be within five years; some think it will take 50 years.
Q The group ultimately came up with five options?
A Yes. We started with over 40 options and winnowed it down to five. We knew we were not going to have universal agreement on any one of those.
Q Will the DNR choose one of those options?
A We may or may not pick one of those as written. It may be some combination. We may phase something in. This is the first small step in generating broader public discussion and awareness of the issue.
Q Would you be surprised if any restrictions were implemented by next fall?
A Yes, I would.
Q Did the group consider lead bullets or slugs used by big-game hunters?
A No. The scope of this was shotgun hunting of upland species.
Q How would banning lead shot affect hunters with older-vintage shotguns?
A It used to be that steel shot could score the barrels of older guns, but the new nontoxic loads have shot-cups with thick plastic; the shot doesn't come in contact with the barrel walls. I shoot steel with an 1898 Parker and a 1948 L.C. Smith.
Q Why did you switch to all nontoxic shot?
A It was a personal decision. I have three young kids who eat wild game, and I didn't want to feed them lead. It was a no-brainer for me.
Q So how long before we see more lead-shot restrictions?
A I don't know. The DNR has not made any decision yet. There are a lot of factors, including politics -- and we're getting a new DNR commissioner. But personally I think we'll move forward on this issue and that it will be a matter of years rather than decades.
The committee's report is available online at
http://www.startribune.com/a2075. http://www.startribune.com/531/story/879453.htmlThe 11-member Nontoxic Shot Advisory Committee agreed on several principles, including:
•It's inevitable that lead shot must be restricted for all shotgun hunting at some future time.
•Lead shot restrictions should be phased in over time.
•The regulations should be simple, understandable and enforceable.
The group narrowed a list of 40 options to five that the DNR could consider banning lead shot for:
•Dove hunting on public and private lands statewide.
•Hunting all small game on all public lands in the state's farmland zone.
•Hunting all small game on all public and private lands in the farmland zone.
•Hunting all small game on all state wildlife management areas.
•Hunting all small game on all public and private lands statewide.
