Lead-Free Industry Information

Hunters and anglers are sometimes called the “original” conservationists.

Starting with hunters who were profoundly disturbed by the impacts of market hunting near the turn of the 20th century, the community used their resources and influence to form the foundation of modern wildlife conservation. Today, the hunting and angling community remains committed to the conservation of all of America’s wildlife, including those species that are not hunted or fished.

The following is a list of resources from the hunting and angling community.

California

California Fish & Game Certified Nonlead Ammunition Information

Connecticut

Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection - Lead Bullet Fragments in Wild Game

Iowa

Videos of Iowa hunters who have made the switch to non-toxic ammunition:
• Iowa Hunter Pete Eyheralde On Switching to Non-lead Ammunition
• Iowa Hunter Dean Jackson On Switching to Non-lead Ammunition

For more information on lead contamination in wildlife in Iowa, visit the page from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Maine

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Hunting with Nonlead Ammunition

Maine Audubon - Fish Lead Free

Fish Lead Free - Maine

Massachusetts

Woodville Rod & Gun Club - Get the Lead Out of Fishing

Fish Lead Free - Massachusetts

Minnesota

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Ammunition information

New Hampshire

Fish Lead Free - New Hampshire

New York

New York Department of Environmental Conservation - Choose Non-Lead Ammunition

Oklahoma

Impacts of Lead Ammunition and Sinkers on Wildlife – Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service –
Provides information to hunters and anglers to help make an informed decision to voluntarily reduce impacts to wildlife.

Rhode Island

State of Rhode Island Department of Health - Environmental Lead Program

Vermont

Fish Lead Free - Vermont

Wisconsin

How Good Are Copper Bullets, Really?
A copper bullet study from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Wisconsin DNR encourages hunters to “Give Nontoxics a Shot”

Additional Reading:
Midwest Office of the US Fish & Wildlife Service Deer Hunting & Lead: Be part of the solution

Beringa South – Non-Lead Ammo Program

Hunting with Non-Lead – Maintaining sportsmen’s conservation heritage through use of solid copper ammo
Hunting with Non-Lead – compilation of non-lead ammunition videos

SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources) – Hunt and Fish Lead-Free
SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources) – Non-toxic Alternatives

The Trumpeter Swan Society – Swan Health
The Trumpeter Swan Society – What You Can Do

Articles
In the Battle Over Lead Ammunition, Science Collides With Culture, Undark
7 Reasons Why I Choose to Use Lead-Free Ammunition, Clark Armory

Podcasts


Lead-free ammo and hunting with raptors, Leopold Hunt Talk Radio Podcast, episode 87

Reports
Does the ban on lead shot save waterfowl?

For more information about lead, visit:
SOAR’s Lead in the Environment page
Environmental Protection Agency
Centers for Disease Control
Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Lead Poisoning Prevention