The Hog Blog

First things first… a couple of weeks back, I posted up about a proposal floated around Montana to ban lead ammunition from State Wildlife Areas.  As of February 11, the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission voted against the ban.  As was reported in the Billings Gazette, it was a close vote.

HELENA — By a slim, one-vote margin, Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission on Thursday killed an effort to ban lead shot ammunition for upland game bird hunting on a series of state-owned hunting lands.

The commission voted 3-2 against banning lead shot ammunition at the Freezeout Lake and Canyon Ferry wildlife management areas. Earlier, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks had suggested banning lead shot on all the management areas. The commission never considered a total ban, the only two that came up for discussion at Thursday’s meeting were Freezeout Lake and Canyon Ferry.

That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news comes from California.  I received the following press release the other day, but was asked to hold it.  Well, it’s reported all over the place now… so much for being first out of the gate.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: John D. Mann

February 23, 2010

 (916) 718-7420
 
Nava Announces Introduction of Bill Banning the Use of Lead Shot in State Wildlife Areas
 
Nava Will Be Joined by Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, the Humane Society and other Environmental Groups
 
What: Press conference regarding Nava’s proposal to ban the use of toxic lead shot in all California State Wild Life Areas
 
When: Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 11 a.m.
Where: State Capitol, Room 1190
Who:  Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara)
            Audubon California
            Defenders of Wildlife
            The Humane Society of the United States
 
The bill will expand existing federal limitations on the use of lead shot to include all 627,000 acres of California’s most important wildlife habitat that host many species which are listed as threatened, endangered or fully protected under state law.  
 
“This is an important environmental issue for California wildlife,” said Assemblymember Nava. “The science is increasingly clear that lead shot poses a real danger to bird populations on these lands. With viable alternatives to lead shot – this is just a no-brainer.”
 
Two years ago, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Nava’s Ridley Tree Condor Preservation Act that banned the use of lead ammunition in California condor country. The ban has been instrumental in the recovery of the endangered California condor.
 
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 It just makes me tired.  The arguments have all been made, and I don’t have much new to add.  I recognize that lead-free ammo is becoming more and more available, and that the lead ban juggernaut has worked up a pretty solid head of steam in this state.  Even so, statements like, “the science is increasingly clear that lead shot poses a real danger to bird populations on these lands,” really piss me off. 

At the same time Nava is making statements like this, the folks in Montana are saying that the science does NOT support a lead ban.  So which is it? 

Well, anyone who’s been paying attention knows it might be a little of both.  Research does show that carrion birds and even some raptors are picking up residual lead which may be coming from hunter-shot game.  But it’s also not showing a sharp increase in mortality.  In fact, bald eagles, golden eagles, and some hawks appear to be doing very well.  Ravens, crows, and buzzards are also thriving. 

The problem is that the real science here is being buried under emotions, politics, and agenda.  Statements like Nava’s only make it worse.  It’s not a “no-brainer”.  It’s just that some people apparently aren’t using their brains.

Tales from Tejon will continue shortly.  Just waiting on some photos right now.  It was a great time, with a bunch of great guys… but details will have to wait. 

In the meantime…

Just got this from the Peregrine Fund in my email this morning.  Let me ask you to read it completely before you comment, just so you’ll know what’s actually in the report and what conclusions they’re drawing.  Of course then, once you’re educated, have at it! 

Contact
Lynda Lambert, Arizona Game and Fish Department, (602) 789-3203
Jeff Humphrey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (602) 242-0210, Ext. 222
Susan Whaley, The Peregrine Fund, (208) 362-8274
Scott Sticha, Bureau of Land Management, (435) 688-3303

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
February 22, 2010

Contact
Susan Whaley, The Peregrine Fund, (208) 362-8274
Lynda Lambert, Arizona Game and Fish Department, (623) 236-7203
Mark Hadley, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, (801) 538-4737
Recent condor mortalities used to expand conservation efforts

BOISE, IDAHO — After 3 years without a confirmed mortality from lead poisoning, three California condors have recently died from the biggest challenge to the species’ recovery. The condors, including a female and her chick from the previous year, were recovered by The Peregrine Fund.

Necropsies to determine the cause of death were performed at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Testing confirmed the presence of lead fragments in the digestive tracts of all three birds. Lead shuts down the condors’ digestive system, which leads to starvation, weakness and death.

“While the deaths of a breeding female and her wild-hatched chick are a significant loss, condor conservation has been gaining ground since lead poisoning was first identified as a leading cause of mortality and we began to educate hunters about the effects of spent lead on condors,” said biologist Chris Parish, head of The Peregrine Fund’s condor recovery operation in Arizona. “But, as the condor recovery program progresses, new challenges have been identified.”

The three dead birds had been outfitted with tracking equipment that allowed field biologists to monitor daily movements. In recent years, that radio tracking data has identified increased use of southern Utah as a major foraging area for the flock.

“When we first reintroduced condors to northern Arizona in 1996, the birds primarily foraged closer to home,” said Chris Parish. “Now that we have observed the condors expanding their range into Utah and foraging more frequently outside of the local release area, conservation partners are working with Utah and its hunters to reduce the amount of spent lead ammunition available to condors in gut piles and carcasses left in the field.”

The Peregrine Fund tries to capture all condors twice yearly to test for lead exposure, the leading cause of condor death. Birds with high blood lead concentrations are treated with chelation therapy to reduce the lead in their system. Condors are scavengers and research in the last five years has proven that they consume tiny fragments of lead in the remains of gunshot animals.

To aid condor conservation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department started a non-lead ammunition outreach program in 2003 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range. Surveys show that 85 percent of hunters took voluntary measures in 2009 to reduce the amount of available spent lead ammunition in the condor’s core range.

Now the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is implementing a similar program for hunters on the Zion unit in southwestern Utah.

“We’ve started educating our hunters about the effect that lead ammunition has on condors,” said Jim Parrish, nongame avian coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “The next thing we’re going to do is give everyone who hunts on the Zion unit a coupon for a free box of non-lead ammunition.”

“There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel, so we’re modeling the Utah program after Arizona’s non-lead effort,” continued Jim Parrish. “Utah’s sportsmen are conservation-minded.  We’re confident they’ll step up to the challenge and that our program, combined with the highly successful program in Arizona, will keep the condor population healthy and allow it to grow.”

Condor conservation partners include The Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Wildlife in Need, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

For more information on condor conservation and non-lead ammunition, visit www.peregrinefund.org or www.azgfd.gov/condor.

DID YOU KNOW?

• By 1982, just 22 California Condors remained on Earth. Captive breeding programs were established in the 1980s.
• California Condors now live in the wild in Arizona, Utah, California and Mexico.
• The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan up to 9½ feet.
• Condors reach maturity at about six years of age.  They usually produce one egg every other year.
• Prior to reintroduction, the last wild condor in Arizona was sighted just south of the Grand Canyon in 1924.
• There are now 74 condors in Arizona and Utah.
• Visitors at the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs may be able to observe the birds, especially during the spring and summer.

###

Here’s a quickie for a Monday morning… 

It’s still a  little early, but for folks who enjoy shooting ground squirres, jack rabbits and such in the condor zone, it’s been a long, miserable search to find a lead-free, rimfire bullet for the .17hmr.  Last year, CCI released their TNT Green line, but personally, I never even saw it on a shelf or catalog.  I guess it was out there, but it slipped right by me.  From talking to several Hog Blog readers, it slipped by them too.

Well, here’s your chance to remedy that…

I have found (and purchased) the .17hmr TNT Green ammo online at RM Ammo.  They had a fair supply when I ordered, and according to their website, they still have 30 units left.  I’d never heard of RM until a friend turned me on to them, but the service was extremely fast.  It’s not super cheap, at $12.95/box, but that’s only a couple of bucks more than regular .17hmr ammo. 

If RM runs out, you can also find the TNT Green in stock at MidwayUSA.  They’re getting a little more for it, about $15.99/box or $145.99/brick (500 rds).   

As best I can tell, Cabelas and BassPro are not carrying this ammo yet, or at least it isn’t listed in their catalog.  You can check your regular ammo sources to see if they have it as well.

The lead-free, .22lr “Short Range” ammo from CCI is still not widely available.  I’d intended to take my test box out to the range this weekend, but it just wasn’t in the cards.  As soon as I get a chance to get this stuff into the field, I’ll let you know what I think about it.

The other day I posted up a short bit on Montana’s “test balloon” proposal to ban lead shot for upland and migratory birds on all state-owned wildlife management areas.  The idea went over with the MT hunting community, appropriately enough, like a lead balloon. 

Anthony Canales, who some of you may recognize from past lead ammo discussions, has been working with the NRA and others to present a solid, scientific challenge to the lead-ban proponents.  For some reason, every time he posts to this blog he gets blocked, but Canales does still send me the occasional email to let me know what’s going on.  Apparently, the NRA has been actively (pro-actively?) involved in the MT conversation as well.  I thought his latest email was worth sharing:

Dear Mr. Loughlin,

Regarding your posting on the Montana FWP’s proposal for a requirement to use “nontoxic” shot while hunting upland game on the state’s Wildlife Management Areas-

1) NRA has been running a hunter and shooter alert on the issue for the past 2 weeks, encouraging hunters and shooters to write in to the “Surveymonkey” website entry form. In the past week our state MC’s started adding their “nonresident-hunter’s 2 cents worth” to that website, plus to various state FWP officials and their FWP Commission. The link we were also sending to Governor Schweitzer was included, but it apparently got “turned off” during the campaign.

You can see the contact information at my blog posting at:

http://tinyurl.com/yf6e3ga
I personally have been a nonresident deer and upland game hunter in Montana for a number of years now, and many California activists I work with own property, or hunt, in Montana.

2) I have spoken personally with Ms. McKee of the Billings Gazette, and who I believe is also the author of the Missoula paper article. She said her source on the California origin of a lead shot ban was some gunshop sales person in Montana who attributed the ban to California, and that it was a total ban to boot.

I explained that it was a regional ban, and only applicable to centerfire and rimfire under the various regs noted under AB 821 and DFG regs. I explained to her about the failure of the birdshot ban proposal in California, and passed on some science information we used and introduced into the public record during the comment periods and F&G Commission hearings last summer.

3) While your comments on “hunters coming together and providing a united front” being the reason why AB 821 was not defeated, I believe that it lacks the context as to which position would predominate as towards a united approach.

Some folks were agreeable as to concessions to prohibit lead. Other folks were knowledgeable as to the true status of the proposed alternatives. These are issues that you and I have discussed forcefully in emails, and to a degree have apparently “agreed to disagree” on for now.

As long as there is evidence of scientific mis-statement at the best, and knowing scientific misconduct at the worst on this issue, I cannot but say to you that I strenuously must disagree with a lead ammunition ban by political concession.

Please be assured that the information we placed in the public record is not the entire record on potential scientific misconduct on this matter.

Just a note to folks who may not have been around for some of the exchanges between myself and Mr. Canales…  our primary point of contention was not over whether or not there should be a lead ban (we both oppose it), but over the approaches and strategies being pursued. 

Mr. Canales also takes a more optimistic point of view that, by continuing to apply pressure and scientific proof, the CA lead ban will be overturned.  While I certainly would love to see that happen, and I support the efforts to that end; I have very little hope that it will come to fruition. I believe that the time and effort is better spent moving forward, and stopping the ban from spreading… both in CA and out. 

Fortunately, as you can see in the email, those goals are not mutually exclusive.

From the While I Was Out files…  stuff that slipped through the cracks while I was here at the 2010 SHOT Show.

First of all, got this great photo in an email from my friend Matt, who some of you may recognize as De Hog Shootinest Gent’man.  I don’t think Matt ever stops hunting or killing hogs, but I think winter is his special time of year.  I’m a touch envious of his access to some prime hog hunting… and the fact that it’s close enough for him to roll out and hit it when the mood strikes. 

Nevertheless, he’s taken another really nice tusker as you can see here.  Congrats, Matt!  Keep at ‘em!

In other news, so to speak, Montana is the latest state to face new restrictions on lead ammunition.  I don’t know what I’d do without the Outdoor Pressroom, which is where I found the link to this article in the Missoula, MT Missoulian newspaper. 

You can read it yourself, but it looks like the MT Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has floated a proposal to ban lead shot for upland and migratory birds on all of the state’s 72 wildlife management areas.  So far, it looks like the Department is just checking the water.

There’s nothing to suggest lead shot poses any risk to those or any other upland game bird species, Aasheim [Ron Aasheim, a spokesman for the MT DFWP] said. Montana’s tentative ban was proposed only to be “consistent” with the federal ban and other lead shot bans on certain tribal lands.

“We’ve got restrictions on using lead shot for waterfowl, and do we take the next step on the wildlife management areas?” he said.

Aasheim also stressed that the ban was very tentative and proposed more like a “trial balloon” to see where Montanans stood on the issue. There are no “biological reasons” to ban lead shot on the areas, but people simply may not like it, Aasheim said and commissioners want to know about it.

The majority of hunters interviewed in the piece are pretty strongly opposed, of course.  That was no surprise.  The thing I didn’t like to read is that the folks in MT are seeing lead ammo bans into a “California thing.”  It is NOT a geographical issue… it’s a very real topic that will continue to come up all over the country.  CA hunters and shooters missed their best opportunity to block the ban here, because they didn’t come together and form a united front.  Hunters need to pay attention and learn from the mistakes made in CA, or they’ll be repeated every time.  But that’s enough preaching for now.

One last thing, and this actually relates to the 2010 SHOT Show.  I was remiss in not reporting that Dave Petzal, of Field and Stream was the recipient of this year’s Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award.  I’ve often referenced Petzal’s blog, the Gun Nut, and I’ve always enjoyed his writing in the magazine as well.  It’s much-deserved recognition, and I offer my congratulations to Mr. Petzal. 

Well, my flight leaves in a little while.  I need to finish packing and get out of this crazy town.  Vegas is fun… for a little while, but it’s no place to be flying solo (particularly not given my age and relationship status).  I’m looking forward to being home.

I’ve been running real short on motivation for blogging lately.  I’m not sure why, because I actually have a handful of topics and posts I’ve been wanting to work on, but I just haven’t been able to get myself to write it all up.  Oh well, this too shall pass.

In the meantime, I was scanning through my news feeds last night, and this bit in the San Francisco Examiner jumped out at me.  Now, when I first saw the source and the topic, I had a feeling I was gonna see more of the same-old-same-old anti-lead propaganda.  However, I always try to take a look… at best I get a pleasant surprise.  At worst, at least I get to know what the “other side” is on about.

Well, damned if this didn’t really fit either mold.  It wasn’t a slam on hunters and lead ammo, but neither was it particularly supportive of lead ammo.  However, it did say something I’ve been saying for a while:

So, while there is no conclusive data to indicate that humans eating venison shot with lead bullets are at any greater risk of increased lead levels in their bloodstream, it seems that we are heading down the path of reducing any and all forms of lead exposure in accordance with the CDC goals by 2010.

 It’s entirely likely that, despite a lack of evidence to support it, lead ammo is well on the way out.  I don’t know about 2010, but I do think we’re going to see it in the relatively near future.  When the issue starts to make the pages of a publication like the SF Examiner (not exactly a hotbed of hunting and shooting information), things are moving.

Just saw this from the American Sportfishing Association.  I know, it’s not hunting or ammunition, but it’s really all the same bloody thing, isn’t it? 

In the name of honest disclosure, I’ve done no research on this issue and really don’t have a position right now.  My knee-jerk response, of course, is that this is no different from the lead ammo ban and the proposed ban is little more than an over-reaction to a nominal risk… but that’s the problem with knee-jerk reactions. 

Anyway, take a look.  I can promise you, as with the lead ammo, this will not be limited to the state of Washington.  Remember, the National Park Service is working toward the same ends in all National Parks. 

Read up, learn, and act appropriately.

November 17, 2009

American Sportfishing Association Policy Alert

Washington State Anglers Face a Ban on Lead Fishing Tackle

For more information, contact Gordon Robertson, vice president and Government Affairs lead, 703.519.9691, x237 or Mike Leonard, Policy Fellow, x230.

Without evidence that lead fishing tackle is posing a threat to loon populations, a proposed ban in Washington State is completely unwarranted!

Please send a letter to the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission demanding that they reject a proposed rule that would ban the use of lead fishing tackle. The proposal is based on the assumptions that lead fishing tackle poses a threat to loon populations and that many alternatives to lead are widely available for approximately the same price – neither of which is true. The deadline for comment is December 1, 2009.

No evidence exists that concludes that lead fishing tackle is threatening loon populations. A study of common loons by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife found “no evidence of a declining population or a substantial change in distribution” in the state, and loon populations are stable or increasing throughout their range.  Advocates for the proposed ban are using as evidence a finding that says over the past 13 years, nine loons are found to have died from ingesting lead fishing tackle. 

Additionally, fishing tackle made from alternatives to lead can be much more expensive, in limited supply and not perform as well.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington isthe fifteenth largest state in terms of annual sportfishing expenditures. Washington’s 736,000 anglers spent $1.04 billion in 2006, generating $210 million in state and local tax revenue. Washington’s anglers support 15,000 jobs with $513 million in salaries and wages. If Washington’s anglers stopped fishing and did not spend their money elsewhere in state, the state’s economy would shrink by $1.66 billion. In addition, non-residents comprise 13 percent of Washington’s anglers who have a significant impact on the state’s economy.

Please take action now to ensure that the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission rejects the proposed ban by sending your letter by December 1, 2009.

One of the blogs I read every weekday is Dave Petzal’s (and Phil Bourjailly) Gun Nut blog, on the Field and Stream site.  Not only do I love Petzal’s sense of curmudgeonly humor, he’s also got a ton of excellent information on shooting, guns, and ammo.  The comments are also usually pretty spot on.

Anyway, this latest blog entry from Petzal takes a look at Nosler’s newest lead-free offering, which is a new ballistic tip bullet for varmint hunters.  I’m not that big of a varmint shooter myself, but this is pretty good info for those of you who are into coyotes, ground squirrels, and other such stuff.  Give it a read!

Well, if I’m not back yet, I will be this weekend. 

What did you figure for the last question?  Did you check out the DFG site, or did you already know the answer?

The bullets that are not permitted for big game hunting in the CA Condor Zone are the Extreme Shock and the Ballistic Silvertip. 

“But wait,” you say!  “The Extreme Shock is a lead-free bullet!  Doesn’t that make it legal?”

Nope.  For two reasons.  First of all, if you checked the DFG list, you saw that Extreme Shock is not listed.  That means that, no matter what it’s made of, it’s not legal in CA. 

The second reason is that Extreme Shock is a frangible round.  Frangibles are not legal for big game hunting in CA, regardless of whether you’re hunting in the Condor Zone.  I’ve used these things in Texas, and they work fairly well, although I prefer something that doesn’t mush the meat so bad.  They are legal for varmints and predators, however, and would be a great choice on coyotes…especially if you’re shooting near human habitation.

Here’s the last question in our little quiz.  It’s an easy one, and I’ll answer this one when I get home.

True or False:  I pour my own muzzleloader bullets, so I’m not required to use lead-free ammo.

NO! 

(Did I scare ya, yelling and all?)

I may not use lead ammo in that .44, even if I am bowhunting. 

Think about it, a law enforcement officer isn’t going to know if you’re “secretly” planning to  drop the bow and hunt with the pistol instead.  And regardless of intent, the law is designed to keep folks from leaving lead-laced carcasses in the field.  Even if you finish a hog with the pistol, or kill one in defense, the end result is still the same. 

So, if you’re hunting big game or non-game, leave the lead at home.

So now, here’s an open book question (use the DFG website):

Which of the following are NOT approved for big game hunting in the CA Condor Zone (pick all that apply).

A.)  Nosler eTip

B.)  Extreme Shock

C.)  Barnes TSX

D.)  Hornady GMX

E.) Nosler Ballistic Silvertip

F.)  Lapua Naturalis