Hunt_Content Page_Avoiding_Lead_Toxicity_in_Hunting_and_Fishing

FISHING & HUNTING LEAD-FREE

Lead is a heavy metal that can be highly toxic. It is found in many types of hunting ammunition and fishing tackle. Leaving spent ammunition or tackle in the environment can have unintended consequences for wildlife.

Wildlife are susceptible to lead toxicity when they consume lead through their normal feeding habits. Lead toxicosis can lead to severe illness and even death, especially for wild birds. In addition to waterfowl, death has been documented in Wisconsin in eagles, common loons, trumpeter swans, turkey vultures, waterfowl and a whooping crane.

Hunters and anglers have a variety of voluntary options to reduce the risk of unintended lead exposure to wildlife. When choosing your gear, consider lead-free ammunition and tackle — a variety of lead-free options are available. Check with your local sporting goods store or online retailers for lead alternatives. Additional voluntary measures are available to reduce the potential for unintended consequences when lead-free options are not feasible or desirable.

Learn more about how you can help protect wildlife while out in the field and on the water.

Hunting

When planning your hunt, consider ammunition that does not contain lead. Hunting with lead-free bullets or shot is the best way to eliminate any risks from lead ammunition.

For hunters using lead ammunition, here are a few steps that can help reduce unintended lead exposure for wildlife.

  • Plan ahead to remove carcasses or impacted remains, including gut piles, from the field. This helps reduce the chance of wildlife unintentionally eating lead fragments through normal eating habits.
  • Try a variety of ammunition to determine the best options for the most ethical harvest. Monolithic, bonded and controlled-expansion bullet designs are shown to result in less fragmentation. Consider performance characteristics such as accuracy, terminal performance and bullet construction when selecting lead ammunition. Most manufacturers provide information on specific ammunition types and the applications for which they are best suited.
  • Practice with your choice of ammunition to improve your shot. Practice with your choice of ammunition to improve your accuracy for cleaner, more lethal shot placement. DNR-owned shooting ranges are a great place to practice shooting.

Whether you are eating your harvested venison or donating it through the DNR's Deer Donation Program, here are a few additional steps from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to reduce the risks of lead contamination in venison.

  • Trim a distance away from the wound channel. Most bullet fragments are found within 10 inches of the wound, but they can often be found further out.
  • Place your shots carefully. Shots that go through bone will fragment more than shots that go through soft tissue.
  • Discard any soiled meat. This includes meat that is bruised or discolored or contains hair, dirt, bone fragments or grass.
  • Minimize rinsing around the wound channel. Rinsing can spread lead fragments.
  • Choose wisely for consumption. If you don't know how the meat was harvested, opt for whole cuts of meat over ground meat.

Fishing

When choosing your gear, consider fishing tackle that does not contain lead.

When using tackle containing lead:

  • Check your line for knicks, tears or wear to prevent unwanted breakoffs and lost tackle.
  • When applicable, consider selecting sinkers and jigs greater than 1 ounce or longer than 2.5 inches. Jigs less than 1 ounce or shorter than 2.5 inches are more likely to be ingested by waterbirds.
  • Use lead-free wire for your streamers and nymphs.
  • Make a reasonable effort to retrieve snagged lures or tackle.
  • Never throw fishing gear into the water or onshore.

Dispose Of Lead Tackle Properly

Local scrap metal recyclers may accept lead tackle. The Wisconsin Recycling Markets Directory [exit DNR] provides a list of scrap metal collection sites that accept lead. Select “Metals” for the material category and “Lead” for the material subcategory. Lead is a heavy metal that can leach in certain conditions and should be stored in a puncture-proof plastic container.

If there are no options near you, lead tackle can be placed in household trash. Do it safely by double bagging or sealing the tackle in a plastic container to help prevent lead from leaching into the landfill. Lead tackle should never go in household recycling bins.

Education

Set up kids with tackle boxes that have nonlead weights. Inexperienced anglers tend to lose the most sinkers, so swapping out this basic thing can help cut down on the amount of lead left behind in Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers.

Learn More About Lead Toxicity

For more information, visit the following websites: