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NEW SHOT FOR WATERFOWLERS
August 12th, 2004
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday approved three new
non-toxic shot types B tungsten-bronze -iron, a new formulation of
tungsten-iron, and
tungsten-tin-bismuth B for use in waterfowl hunting.
The approval published in the Federal Register
today. Today's action brings to 10, the number of
non-toxic shot types available to waterfowl hunters.
"Protecting our waterfowl populations while ensuring
waterfowl hunting opportunities are two things we
take very seriously," said Service Director Steve Williams. "With each
new shot type approved,
hunters will have a wider range of choices as they
continue to play a key role in the conservation of
waterfowl and its habitat."
International Nontoxic Composites Corporation's
application of tungsten-bronze-iron shot, ENVIRON-Metal Inc.'s
application of tungsten-iron shot, and Victor Oltrogge's application for
tungsten-tin-bismuth shot have all been approved after being subjects to
a rigorous testing protocol.
Previously, hunters were allowed to use steel shot,
bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix,
tungsten-nickel-iron and tungsten-iron-nickel-tin.
Efforts to phase out lead shot began in the 1970s and
a nationwide ban on lead shot for all waterfowl hunting was implemented
in 1991. Canada instituted a complete ban in 1999. Waterfowl can ingest
expended lead shot and many then die from lead poisoning. In addition,
predators that consume waterfowl may ingest the shot.
A study in the mid-1990s found that the nationwide
ban in the United States on the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting
has had remarkable success.
Six years after the ban, researchers estimated a
64 percent reduction in lead poisoning deaths of surveyed mallard ducks
and a 78 percent decline on
ingestion of lead pellets.
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