NONTOXIC SHOT REGULATIONS FOR
HUNTING WATERFOWL AND COOTS IN THE U.S.
October 19,
2001
BACKGROUND
The ban on the use of lead shot
for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-88 hunting
season. The ban became nationwide
in 1991. Nontoxic shot regulations apply only to waterfowl, defined as the
family Anatidae (ducks, geese, [including brant], and swans) and coots. Nontoxic
shot is defined as any shot type that does not cause sickness and death when
ingested by migratory birds.
Currently, the only shot types
that are approved as being nontoxic in the U.S. are:
- Steel
shot
- Steel
shot with coatings of < 1% of either copper, nickel, zinc chromate, or zinc
chloride
-
Bismuth-tin
-
Tungsten-iron
-
Tungsten-polymer
-
Tungsten-matrix
-
Tungsten-nickel-iron
Tin shot is no longer legal for hunting waterfowl and
coots in the U.S. Tin shot was
granted temporary approval for the 2000/01 hunting season only. This temporary approval expired at the
end of the 2000/01 hunting season.
Therefore, tin shot is not legal for hunting waterfowl and coots during
the 2001/02 season
Further information on lead poisoning in waterfowl can
be found at the following web site:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pbpoison/pbpoison.htm#contents