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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

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