Anti-hunting groups and radical environmentalists are actively engaged in a lobbying campaign to ban lead ammunition, citing allegations that lead is having a detrimental effect on wildlife.  Remember, the lead ban in shotshells is already in effect for migratory game birds.

Looking forward at likely threats and the discussion of a potential ban on lead shot for upland bird hunting in Minnesota, Rep. Tom Hackbarth adds, "I do not know of anyone in the Minnesota Legislative Sportsmen Caucus that supports the Minnesota DNR proposal to ban lead shot on public lands. I have spoken with several members on the Game, Fish and Forestry Division Committee and this proposal will have a very tough time."

Also, in Minnesota as well as Iowa and South Dakota concerns were raised about microscopic lead being found in packs of venison donated to area food banks.

But, the biggest obstacle is for California hunters where legislation lead in ammunition used in ‘condor habitat'.

In California, the condor has been the species utilized to enact a lead ammunition ban.  Those who advocated a ban on lead ammunition in California indicated that they believe that the efforts to save the endangered California condor from extinction have been adversely affected by the deaths of condors attributable to lead poisoning. They assert that the source of the lead poisoning condors is from ammunition used by hunters, but this contention has not been conclusively proven.  A large majority of California hunters and sportsmen strongly support a program of voluntary measures, not a lead ammunition ban, which would help avoid the ingestion of lead bullet fragments by condors.

Legislation

On October 13, Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California, signed into law legislation banning traditional ammunition in key hunting areas of the state.  Assembly Bill 821, backed by anti-hunting extremists, was intended to save the California condor from lead poisoning despite the fact that there is no conclusive scientific evidence that the birds are getting sick from ingesting ammunition fragments.     

Points of Interest

• Legislators and environmentalists did not listen to the scientific research which never resulted in conclusive results and instead continued to support the drastic move of banning lead ammunition.
• Any ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting will have a significant negative economic impact on the state's fish and wildlife agency.
• There will be a noticeable loss to the economy of the state and local economies, particularly in rural areas. 
• Voluntary measures to address the situation are normally available.
• Decisions should be based upon science, not emotion.

The following statistics, specific to California, are based upon estimated economic losses from on analysis of existing data related to hunting license/tag sales, sales of firearms and ammunition, and expenditures of hunters while preparing for, and while engaged in or traveling to or from, big game hunting:

• Losses of $624,000 per year in Federal Pittman-Robertson grant money to the Department of Fish and Game.
• A loss of $3.9 million to the Department resulting from a decline in California hunting license/tag sales.  
• A net loss to the state of $266 million.
• A decline in retail sales of $131 million.
• A reduction of $15 million in state and federal income taxes.
• A loss of 2,230 jobs.