.....Maybe you missed my point on this issue, maybe I wasn't clear enough. Here it is:
A total statewide ban on lead shot is not necessary. Most forest grouse hunting, which is 90 percent of what I do, puts so little shot into the environment it's not funny. And it takes place where no waterfowl feed. So the possibility of lead poisoning is next to zero.
But my fear is the state will ignore good sense and do what makes the warm and fuzzies happy. Because in the end it's all about getting re-elected next term......
Scary as it might seem we're all reading from the same book, we're just on different pages...
I guess I did miss your point because what I got and get repeatedly is this is all a Bull Shit agenda brought forth by the warm and fuzzies.
I fully support the idea of a statewide ban and I can assure you I am neither warm nor fuzzy.
I would be inclined to agree forest grouse hunting contributes little if anything to the problem. I do how ever believe grouse hunting represents a small percentage of what what bird hunters actively pursue. Further where do you draw the line if not a statewide ban? How close to waterways can you shoot lead? You say above 90 percent of what you hunt is forest grouse, how about the other ten percent is it okay to shoot lead then? You said in your Poodle post you missed a opportunity to shoot a Pheasant over a creek, is it okay to shoot lead then? What about other hunters do you expect to continue to allow lead use and none of it will end up in waterways? I speculate some upland birds likley succumb to lead poisoning as well even though I have not personally seen or no evidence of this, what if maybe just maybe that is true?
I believe since you dont see a problem it likely isnt there, I am telling you I have seen it
firsthand. As I said earlier I wish I could send you every poisoned cripple I found and you can watch them die or you can wring thier necks knowing that quite possibly a Eagle, Hawk, or other predator will be eating it by the afternoon will the possibilty of being poisoned as well. I eat approximately 300-500 ducks a year how many of those birds might be in the early stages of lead poisoning? To me lead poisoning is very real which is why when I see a thread like this I am willing to to try to enlighten (which is likely a fools errand).
On a personal level I belong and donate to Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Washington Waterfowlers, and Pheasants Unlimited. All these are good organizations working to ensure a hunting future largely by creating and maintaining habitat. It pisses me off to think of how some of the bird production gains they make every year that I in a very small way bought and paid for are negated because we continue to deposit more lead into enviroment. Its like the billions of dollars including some of mine that we spend to save the Salmon and yet we allow indiscriminate commercial netting to continue, why?
Shooting non tox may be painful at first but it is a small price to pay, I chose to shoot non tox at least 15 years ago, partly because of reasons mention, mostly cause I got tired of forgotten lead loads from yesterdays afternoon pheasant hunt found in my pocket on the next mornings waterfowl hunt which made me a accidental poacher.
Here is a simple reason why a statewide and really a federal ban is necessary. Today you and I or anybody else can go down to any waterway and shoot lead as long as we arent hunting waterfowl. Heck it is perfectly legal for me to go down to Skagit Bay and and shoot hundreds of lead rounds into the bay every day of the year if I like.
I wont draw out the arguement any longer I doubt I could ever change your stance on the issue any more than you could change mine. I can hope I given you and others some pause for thought.
Tight lines and happy hunting Gentlemen,