Lead Ban In All National Waterways Even Missouri 2010

[bigredbirdfan]

This is nothing new kiddo. It has been happening in small increments since the '80's.

This might help some here to understand what Al was saying.

February 2007

Nontoxic shot requirement expands to new areas

Friday, February 23, 2007

Regulation changes on 21 conservation areas will require hunters to use steel or other nontoxic shot for all shotgun hunting, starting this year. The change is designed to reduce wildlife exposure to lead shot.

(Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)

Hunters will need to use steel or other nontoxic shot for hunting on 21 more conservation areas this fall.

JEFFERSON CITY-Concern for the health of waterfowl and other wildlife is the basis for new regulations that will require the use nontoxic shot for all shotgun hunting on 21 new areas this year.

In August, the Conservation Commission approved a ban on lead shot for all hunting with a shotgun on 21 conservation areas (CAs). All 21 areas attract large numbers of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The requirement to use steel or other federally approved nontoxic shot on these areas applies to all hunting with shotguns.

CAs affected by the regulation change include B. K. Leach Memorial, Black Island, Bob Brown, Columbia Bottom, Cooley Lake, Coon Island, Duck Creek, Eagle Bluffs, Fountain Grove, Four Rivers, Grand Pass, Little Bean Marsh, Little River, Marais Temps Clair, Montrose, Nodaway Valley, Otter Slough, Schell-Osage, Settle's Ford and Ten Mile Pond.

Conservation Department Assistant Director John Smith, who chairs the agency's Regulations Committee, said the changes are based on research conducted in cooperation with the University of Missouri's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Veterinary School and other agencies.

Research findings indicate that lead shot is being deposited in quantities sufficient to cause birds to pick it up when foraging for food. They further show that ingesting lead shot causes many birds to die. Species found to suffer from lead poisoning include mourning doves, eagles, hawks, owls, quail, wild turkeys and shorebirds.

"This is not something we are rushing into," said Smith. "Exhaustive research has documented the fact that high concentrations of lead shot deposited on some areas are causing birds to die. Determining exactly how many birds are affected is more difficult, but there is no question that lead poisoning is occurring. Knowing that, the responsible thing to do is to address the problem where it is most serious."

Smith said the regulation changes focus on areas of concentrated hunting activity. This includes areas managed for waterfowl and dove hunting.

Up to 6.5 percent of doves eat lead pellets. However, even at this low rate of exposure, nearly as many doves die of lead poisoning each year as the number of doves shot by hunters.

Similar findings led federal officials to ban the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting 20 years ago. The new state regulations expand the requirement for nontoxic shot to areas where birds are at similar risk.

The Conservation Department will hold 25 to 30 seminars at locations around the state starting this summer to help hunters learn to use steel shot effectively. Information about these seminars will be posted on the agency's Web site as soon as details are set.

Smith emphasized that this year's regulation changes only affect hunting on the 21 areas listed above.

"Change is never easy," said Smith, "and hunters are right to question why they should have to change the kind of ammunition they use. But I have faith in hunters. The conservation movement started with hunters, who recognized that some restrictions were necessary to preserve their heritage. Hunters have always supported science-based conservation. They know it is the only way to ensure the future of their sport. When they know the facts about lead shot and doves, hunters will be glad to do what's right."

-Jim Low-

Were not taking lead shot here. We are talking small lead jig heads. You will note that this decision has occured since the new administration.

[bigredbirdfan]

I too use a lot of lead jigs, from 1/100 up to 3/8. One thing I'm sure of is that the manufacturer's of non lead jigs will start offering an alternative soon (I hope). Not to mention spinner baits and buzz baits which I lose on occasion. There are and have been alternatives for cat fishermen and bass fishermen for quite a while. I do hope they can offer something in the smaller sizes. Locally there is nothing that I have found,yet.

You don't wait for the market to produce a better product. You mandate date it so they produce what people don't want but get anyway. Lead is used because it is mallable. Maybe gold or silver will replace it

[drew03cmc]

You don't wait for the market to produce a better product. You mandate date it so they produce what people don't want but get anyway. Lead is used because it is mallable. Maybe gold or silver will replace it

How do you mandate that some company you have no control or influence over, do something? Tungsten is heavier, however, it is the likely candidate. Tin is one of the other options, but it is lighter than lead. I have yet to see a trout sized jighead with the head made of anything other than lead, and until I do, I refuse to use other things. I guarantee the price of the non-lead stuff is at least 30% more expensive for the same quantity, if not fewer.

I am all for protecting our environment, but I have to ask why start with lead shot, while still producing vehicles (passenger and light trucks) that get less than 20mpg? Why lead when cities are discharging toxic materials into our rivers and lakes? Why lead when we could be making better decisions regarding bank stabilization and planting native plants to help filter out the agricultural runoff from ending up in our lakes and streams? Why lead?

[jjtroutbum]

Doesn't lead come from the ground?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Were not taking lead shot here. We are talking small lead jig heads. You will note that this decision has occured since the new administration.

Oh my bad. From your article that you quoted in your first post, I thought I read it as saying "Lead Free". And I also thought it said "all hunting and fishing".

And thanks for correcting me about when the new admin. started. I could have swore it was in 2008.

I guess the point of my whole post went completely over your head. Again. Let me help you out a little.

Point 1. As Al eluded too, the main reason for lead being banned is that it is picked up and ingested very easily by waterfowl and doves. Not to mention other song birds and birds of prey that may consume a infected bird.

Point 2. This is not recent "change" that you, and few others here, like to keep harping about. It has been going on for 20 years now. You don't seem to have trouble using the internet to post flipant comments that are baseless and factless, why don't you use it to research and learn.

I do thank you for posting this though. It is worth keeping an eye on.

[ozark trout fisher]

I do think that lead is probably not a big deal in some waterways, including those like Current River. However, it can be a big problem in some places. Any type of waterfowl that feeds upon bottom material, like ducks and loons, are going to ingest lead, and it takes a surprisingly small amount of lead in the body of these birds to affect them.

The ban on lead in Yellowstone has been in effect for quite a while, and seems to cause the anglers there little hardship. However, I'm not sure how it is enforced. I've fished in Yellowstone quite a bit, and always use non-lead split shot...but I know I've used nymphs and streamers there that were weighted with lead wire. If I was ever checked, would the ranger tear up my flies to see if they were weighted with lead?

I think it's a lot more problematical for the non-flyfisher. While bans on lead in some flyfishing areas have forced the development and availability of substitutes for flyfishing, the bass angler or catfisherman doesn't have as many options. Non-lead sinkers are slowly becoming available (and they are more expensive), but non-lead jig heads and similar tackle is still almost non-existent. A sudden ban on lead in places like middle Current River and Jacks Fork is going to result in a LOT of infractions. I've got to think that this ban is not going to be strictly enforced until a few years have passed and there are a lot of available non-lead products on the market.

All in all, I can see the reasoning behind the ban. Heck, not only is lead a proven environmental hazard, but we're continually trying to keep the lead mining companies from messing up Ozark rivers (especially including the Current and Jacks Fork, ironically) with new mines. But it will be interesting to see how this issue plays out in the typical non-trout waters of the various parks.

I don't usually fly fish, and I often do use things such as lead head jigs. And maybe I am incorrect on this count, (correct me if I am), but I usually don't see too much in the way of waterfowl along the Current River that would be negatively affected by lead sinkers. But, really, it is the spirit of the law the bugs me. The fact that the feds are gonna ban it in every single national park, that just isn't right. If there is a specific place where waterfowl are being severely negatively affected by lead weights, and I can see some scientific research to prove that lead is hurting waterfowl IN THAT SPECIFIC NATIONAL PARK, than consider banning it there. But I can confidently say this is a bad idea to ban it nationally, just think of the enforcement problems it will create. Why don't these people focus their attention on more important things than than this? I guarantee you lead shot is about at the bottom of the list of environmental hazards facing our national parks right now. Plus, this is going to make fishing with trout jigs and stuff in places like the Eleven Point and the Current River below the park almost or completely impossible. Do the feds really know what they are doing? I think not.

[bigredbirdfan]

As Al eluded too, the main reason for lead being banned is that it is picked up and ingested very easily by waterfowl and doves.

Point 2. This is not recent "change" that you, and few others here, like to keep harping about. It has been going on for 20 years now. You don't seem to have trouble using the internet to post flipant comments that are baseless and factless, why don't you use it to research and learn.

I do thank you for posting this though. It is worth keeping an eye on.

Why the hell would a dove or a duck think that lead tastes good? They do have taste buds and I have grown up around poultry my whole life and I can watch them purposle\y avoid a single piece of wheat or soy or rocks because they don't want to eat it. This is all bull sh*t too. The only reason they don't like lead is that wounded birds might get eaten by eagles or god forbid a red tail hawk that we see every 1000 sq feet these days eats a dead bird and gets sick.

Back to the original point of my post which was this is another example of a goverment program with good intentions that strips away too many freedoms. Seriously taking away split shot sinkers and jigs? This sounds like COMMUNIST RUSSIA.

Hell eventually CHINA might have more freedoms than us.

And to Al's point why have unenforceable restrictions anyway. Probably be a $1000 fine and one of us lucky souls will get caught and screwed over this nonsense.

I know that many people on here say I care about water fish and birds so I don't really mind. Then finally we get to well if you really care then you shouldn't catch the little fishies. Make no mistake people behind these efforts want fishing banned altogether this is just a step in that direction.

[Gavin]

The lead ban has been coming for awhile..NPS has had that mandate in Yellowstone for years, so it is no surprise that NPS extended their mandate to other National Parks. They arent going to repeal their mandate, so its up to us to figure out a way to comply with it. There are plenty of brass worm weights on the market, but finding suitable replacement for bass jigs, spinners, and micro jig heads will be a problem for awhile. Maybe its an opportunaty for someone.

The only Missouri and Arkansas waters affected by the NPS ban will be the the Current, Jack's Fork, and Buffalo rivers within the National Park boundaries. Other local waters outside of the Park boundaries are not affected by the NPS ban, but other agencies can regulate the use of lead on land and waters that they control. Cheers.

[Guest]

deleted

[bigredbirdfan]

How often do you fish the NPS waters? It's not going to affect me any and I fish them quite frequently. Listen to what Al, Chief and Gavin have to say. I can tell by your posts that you have no idea why we would be getting rid of lead and you just want something to gripe about. Google "Lead and waterfowl" and post when you actually have something useful to say. LOTS of research has been done on the subject, and I am sure that a statewide ban is only a few years away. Some states already outlaw it, and Illinois is in the process of banning it.

I like to throw tube baits with lead jig heads on all of these waters when I float. I will post whenever and however I want. In the big picture this is a bunch of crap. And it's no excuse for Yellowstone either. A few lead jig heads is the least of the enviromental problems. Good for Illinois I don't fish there.