Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire ODFW, OSU to survey hunters about use of lead ammunition

And predictably, the disease spreads north...

http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2014/jun/odfw-osu-survey-hunters-about-use-lead-ammunition

ODFW, OSU to survey hunters about use of lead ammunition

06/11/2014

CORVALLIS, Ore. � The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University are collaborating on an effort to survey Oregon hunters about their use and knowledge of lead ammunition.

The random sample of 4,200 Oregon hunters will begin later this month and those selected should receive a letter from ODFW within the next two weeks. Oregon has approximately 250,000 hunters and the survey will include hunters from each geographic region of the state.

The use of lead ammunition has become a national issue because of impacts to wildlife and human health concerns, according to Ron Anglin, ODFW Wildlife Division administrator. Last year, California passed a law banning the use of lead ammunition for all hunting in the state beginning in 2019; other states have adopted voluntary measures encouraging the use of ammunition made from alternative compounds.

�There is no proposal to ban or limit use of lead ammunition in Oregon, but developments outside of Oregon could affect the use of lead ammunition within the state,� Anglin said. �The Environmental Protection Agency was petitioned to ban the use of lead in ammunition on a nationwide basis and there is the potential of condors being restored in northern California.�

The California legislature passed a law banning lead ammunition to protect endangered California condors, according to Dana Sanchez, an OSU Extension wildlife specialist and one of the project leaders. Condors can become ill after scavenging on animals that have been killed by lead bullets. The birds ingest lead fragments and can become sick or die, she said.

�Historically, Oregon has had condors, though none are known to live here now,� Sanchez pointed out. �However, there are efforts to re-establish populations in northern California and if they are successful, it is only a matter of time before condors begin frequenting the southern portions of Oregon.

�Once condors appear in Oregon, they would be subject to federal protection under the Endangered Species Act,� she added.

Sanchez said some conservation organizations in the state are monitoring lead levels in birds of prey brought into wildlife rehabilitation centers. There is increasing concern that lead exposure may be causing impacts to raptors and eagles in some areas, she said.

�This could lead to an initiative or other efforts to eliminate or restrict the use of lead ammunition,� Sanchez said.

The survey was developed by the OSU Survey Research Center, which will collect the data for ODFW and the OSU Wildlife Extension program. Survey results will be used to inform discussions among agencies, groups and others about any potential restrictions in the use of lead ammunition.

The purpose of the survey, Anglin said, is to gather information from the group of stakeholders who would be most affected by any restrictions on lead ammunition � Oregon hunters.

�Ideally, we would like to survey all Oregon hunters, but that is expensive,� Anglin said. �However, by selecting a random sample of hunters from regions across the state, we should get a clear picture of how Oregon hunters feel about lead ammunition and possible alternatives.�

Persons not chosen for the survey are welcome to provide comments on lead ammunition directly to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife at a special email address: ODFW.wildlifeinfostate.or.us

Anglin said the ODFW/OSU project team plans to conduct a similar survey of non-hunting Oregonians in the future

It would be nice if they could include the actual chances of any fatal encounter with lead resulting from use of lead in spent bullets.

Instead, they will twist the actual science and spin it the way they want it. Mostly because probably the hardest thing on the face of the earth to prove is finding something that actually was harmed by it.

When the State sez "This is not about banning lead.", guess what it is about.

Of course we know what it's about. Just like everything else this administration does to stick the knife in and give it twist...

From the article.

Welcome to the Tail Wagging the Dog once again... Potland liberals, first spending money wastefully, then telling the rest of the state what we should do to correspond with their latest ideological wet dream to 'save the planet'....

I encourage all fellow Oregonian residents, to contact the web site listed for the survey and set these leftist straight...

yeah, lead.... it leads to the 'death' of animals...the ones shot with the bullet that are being hunted...lead sure hasn't seemed to harm any coyotes that have eaten tons of left over entrails from taken game animals...

Whatever wacko Idea California comes up with, the transplanted liberals in Washington and Oregon can't wait to follow suit...

another example of they supposedly want to get away from California, while wanting to bring it all here once they get here...

It won't matter what we say or how loudly we say it. They are probably required to request public input on policy changes, so the best defense is for no one to say one word to ODFW, denying them their process.
Guess I better start shooting all the bullets I own now while I still can.

Wonder what condors taste like?

Similar to spotted owl.

They are required to request public input. They have. It won't slow them down one bit if they don't get any.

^^^This.^^^

But, in all the cases of "public input" here lately, they close the public input and do what they want anyway. Regardless of science or mass public outcry.

That is called having Carte Blanche with the Obama Administration.

I certainly would not excuse zero's administration for this, but i would also say it started before him. Try the center for biological diversity down in tucson, the subject of other threads.
Quite a few years ago i was reading of trying to reestablish the "historical" range of that dum azz bird which went per the reports at one time all the way up to san francisco. Now arizona does not have a lead free mandate, but voluntary cooperation. I.E. in past years you got a big game permit up in condor country, game and fish would send you two vouchers for premium lead free ammo. That voucher program basically paid for the tag.
The condors were originally released near where game and fish as the buffalo ranch, little to the east of fredonia, vermillion cliffs if i remember right. There is a little remuda built there where you can watch the birds. And last time i was up there the cages were still around they were held captive in at one time. As i was told the story by a high ranking vet. who worked for the state there was a little trouble with the condors. They were basically lazy. And waited till the nice game and fish truck showed up every day with dinner. That beats finding it yourself doesn't it?
I have often wondered how i have survived to age 66 having eaten quail, rabbits, dove that i blew to H*ll and back with lead shot that i havn't stroked out as of yet. Not to mention other big game species?
It's junk science but it is effective in declaring all kinds of rules to limit human interaction on forest land or get rid of some activity you don't like.
We are still relatively free in arizona, but a few years ago they did pass some restrictions on mt lion hunting, as to california which banned it. Our restrictions are you can't shoot a mama cat with cubs, or a lactating female. I asked a game and fish officer about this one time. He said to me how long have you lived in arizona? Lifetime. He said remember the three SSS's. Shoot it, shovel it, and shut up. And if you shoot a legal one let us know so we can get the tooth. This also appied in his view to the wolf. Neither one of which i have shot. Another move is to various "environmental" groups to buy existing cattle ranches, often largely composed of leased BLM land then retain a minimum herd and declare it No hunting. Every year you see a decrease in your ability to access land. Not to mention the "approved" road usage reguirements on federal land. I understand you can still use a .22 to shoot rabbits in california, lead free. How much does that "lead free" ammo cost for that .22? If you can't ban the instrument, ban the stuff that goes in it or make it so prohibitivly expense, it does the same thing. I am NOT going to pay 60bucks a box for 30.06 ammo.

one of my favorite memories was being at that condor remuda a few years ago, and listening to some wonk woman talking about the beautiful buzzards, ah, condors. I was up there to asassinate some turkey's, but didn't tell her that. I said they do have a purpose. She commented, like what. Well, a few weeks before they had a jumper at the grand canyon and couldn't locate the body, until the condors started circling and feeding on the body, that's how they found it. Her comment was how wonderul to know when you died you provided nurishment to those wonderful birds.
I guess it's kind of like the josey wales comment, about the buzzards and worms.