Division
of Migratory Bird Management |
NONTOXIC SHOT REGULATIONS FOR HUNTING WATERFOWL AND COOTS IN THE U.S
January 2006
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.
APPROVED SHOT TYPES
The shot types that are approved as nontoxic for waterfowl hunting in the U.S. are the following.
Approved shot type* |
Composition by weight |
Field testing device** |
bismuth-tin |
97% bismuth and 3% tin |
HOT*SHOT *** |
iron (steel) |
iron and carbon |
Magnet or HOT*SHOT * |
iron-tungsten |
any proportion of tungsten and ≥1% iron |
Magnet or HOT*SHOT * |
iron-tungsten-nickel |
≥1% iron, any proportion of tungsten, up to 40% nickel |
Magnet or HOT*SHOT * |
tungsten-bronze |
51.1% tungsten, 44.4% copper, 3.9% tin, and 0.6% iron and 60% tungsten, 35.1% copper, 3.9% tin, and 1% iron |
Rare Earth Magnet |
tungsten-iron-copper-nickel |
40-76% tungsten, 10-37% iron, 9-16% copper, and 5-7% nickel |
HOT*SHOT * or Rare Earth Magnet |
tungsten-matrix |
95.9% tungsten and 4.1% polymer |
HOT*SHOT * |
tungsten-polymer |
95.5% tungsten and 4.5% Nylon 6 or 11 |
HOT*SHOT * |
tungsten-tin-iron |
any proportions of tungsten and tin and ≥1% iron |
Magnet or HOT*SHOT * |
tungsten-tin-bismuth |
any proportions of tungsten, tin, and bismuth |
Rare Earth Magnet |
tungsten-tin-iron-nickel |
65% tungsten, 21.8% tin, 10.4% iron, and 2.8% nickel |
Magnet |
* Coatings of copper, nickel, tin, zinc, zinc chloride, and zinc chrome on approved nontoxic shot types also are approved.
** This column is for information only, it is not regulatory.
*** The HOT*SHOT field testing device is from Stream Systems of Concord, CA.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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
Return to Home
Page |