It Takes a Long Time For Man To Change His Habits... RE: Lead Shot

L

Larry Eckart

Well-known member
Guys and Dani,
The thread elsewhere on this page connected us to two great publications from 1939: The Feeding Habits of Puddle Ducks and the The Feeding Habits of Diving Ducks. These are incredibly rich publications.

Included in the report on diver ducks is this paragraph about lesser scaup:

Of 477 birds taken in the gunning season in April 1909 (before the
enactment of a Federal law prohibiting spring shooting) on lakes
in the vicinity of Marquette, Wis., it was found that 365 (more than
76.5 percent) had consumed a total of 4,191 lead pellets?an average
of 11.5 shots per bird?and that individual stomachs contained from
1 to 58 shot pellets (p. 39)

Furthermore, the article also identified that research showed that "lead shot contributed to aborted broods," my paraphrase of their technical language and that lead shot could be a significant factor in the decline of bluebills in 1939.


That was a 1939 publication quoting research from 1909.


When was lead shot finally outlawed? 1991. 82 years between research and action and most all of us complained when the move finally came to steel shot.


We are a stubborn part of God's good earth that contributes freely to the "groaning of all creation" as stated by St. Paul.

Larry
 
I read that as well, I also found it profoundly disturbing that lead poisoning in waterfowl was already being documented even then and it took 80 years to take action.
Even though the science was clear and abundant. But even in the 1990's I remember guys denying lead shot was a problem.

Sounds similar to a couple of current topics of science and society......
 
Carl,
Exactly. This time it's not bluebills that are dying because of our stubbornness and resistance to science.

It's us.

And if the bluebills had a daily newspaper regarding events on earth, they would probably gather to talk and conclude: "Look! They haven't learned a thing!"

Larry
 
Very similar to the python and lion fish scourge down here in FL. 20-30 years ago they KNEW that both species were a big problem but they did nothing about them. Only now when it's probably waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too late to do anything are they trying to do something.
 
Carl said:
Even though the science was clear and abundant. But even in the 1990's I remember guys denying lead shot was a problem.
Click to expand...

I have heard people who deny it was a problem yet to this day. They run their mouth about all the crippled birds lost shooting steel. My arguement to that is that if a bird is lost shooting steel no eagles or birds of prey are going to get lead poisoning eating crippled ducks.
 
I loved Travis's (goosebruce) argument to those who thought lead poisoning was BS and a few pellets wouldn't be that big of a deal. He said he'd bake them a casserole with the equivalent of a few pellets of lead for a ducks weight scaled to a man's weight and let them eat it. Argument over.

Eric
 
Hallelujah, it didn't take 80 years for the scientists and biologists to know it was a problem. It took 80 years to force a political or judicial reason for the change. I am in disbelieve that there are people who still deny that lead is a toxin. Most people complaining about lead shot being banned never shot it, but are reliving the myth. Those how complain about crippling still don't know how to shoot. Lead caused more crippling due to deformation, steel has tighter patterns so you either hit or miss.
 
Fishing in Merrick Bay we caught some Flounder I put them in a clean 5 gallon Spackle pail. When I took them out to clean them I found regurgitated ribbed muscle bait and 2 copper clad pellets that a Founder had ingested in the bottom of the pail. Even fish will pick up spent shot. I am guessing the copper cladding was an attractant.

Joe
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, lead in the environment...in water. Say, isn't it still legal to use lead sinkers and weights in most fishing applications within the U.S. in fresh and saltwater? Yeah, I sure am glad that lead shot eventually was banned from use. We sure did get that issue under control to protect wildlife populations!
 
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