GF&P proposes lead shot ban for roads, right-of-ways
StoryDiscussionGF&P proposes lead shot ban for roads, right-of-ways
Kevin Woster Journal staff Rapid City Journal | Posted: Saturday, March 5, 2011 7:00 am | (10) Comments
The familiar debate over lead shot will return to public conversation in South Dakota because of a proposal by the state Game, Fish & Parks Commission to require nontoxic shot for hunting on public roads and right-of-ways.
The commission proposed the ban Thursday during a meeting in Pierre and will vote on whether to put it in regulation during its meeting April 7-8 in Brandon.
The ban was requested through a petition to the commission by Martin-area landowner Marty Vanderploeg. He wants to stop road hunters from scattering lead shot on his property when they blast at pheasants from the road.
Lead shot has been proven lethal when ingested by wildlife, and it poses an overall health and pollution threat in the environment, Vanderploeg said by telephone Friday.
"Lead is very toxic," he said. "It's being put on the surface we live on, the farmland. And groundwater is under it all. Fundamentally, it's a very poor practice."
The GF&P Commission began restricting the use of lead shot and requiring non-toxic alternatives such as steel shot in the early 1980s. Instances of lead poisoning in waterfowl populations near Pierre led to a limited ban along the river in that area. Eventually, lead was banned statewide for waterfowl hunting and for all hunting with shotguns on most public lands.
The lead bans of the past were controversial. Opponents said that steel shot, the main non-toxic alternative, was less effective, could damage some gun barrels, cost too much and led to increased rates of crippling. Supporter said those concerns were overblown and that benefits to wildlife justified the change.
Non-toxic alternatives to lead that are now approved by the state include steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix and any combination of tungsten-iron-nickel-tin-copper-bismuth. Copper-coated lead shot does not qualify as non-toxic shot.
Vanderploeg wants the existing non-toxic-shot requirements extended to cover public roads and right-of-ways, most of which are open to hunting with shotguns.
"Even with the restrictions, we're still losing a lot of waterfowl every year to lead," he said. "And a lot of raptors die, too, when they end up feeding on carcasses with lead in them."
The ban being proposed by the commission is aimed at shotguns. Most hunting from roads and right-of-ways is for upland birds, particularly pheasants. It is also a popular technique for shooting waterfowl flying over roads and right-of-ways near the Missouri River and other areas where ducks and geese congregate.
Hunting for deer and other big game, except for turkeys, is prohibited from roads and right-of-ways.
The GF&P biological staff has made a recommendation on the commission's proposal to extend the lead ban to roads and right-of-ways. Tony Leif, GF&P Wildlife Division director, said the staff will study and discuss the issue in order to provide an analysis for the commission prior to its vote next month.
"Basically, this proposal initiates a conversation," Leif said. "The commission wanted to get additional input on the petition by Mr. Vanderploeg."
Commissioner chairman Jeff Olson of Rapid City said the action by the commission Thursday simply started a month of consideration of Vanderploeg's idea.
"I think it is worth exploring and thus the main reason to accept his petition," Olson said. "We will see what the public thinks and also what the department comes up with as how enforceable it would be."
Mark Blote, an owner at First Stop Guns in Rapid City, said Friday that some hunters will oppose the proposal because they don't want to shoot steel shot, the most common lead alternative, in certain shotguns for fear of barrel damage. Steel and other lead alternatives also are difficult to get in certain loads and shotgun gauges and tend to be more expensive than lead.
"I think it would put a burden on some of the fellows who road hunt, because they're not going to be able to use all the guns they could use before," Blote said. "If they show there's a lot of problems with shooting lead from roads, I could understand. But I don't think they have done that. I think most road hunters would probably prefer not to have the ban."
Blote said he also worries that a lead ban for roads and right-of-ways could be another step toward banning lead shot totally.
"I'm concerned that this would be the next step for a non-tox regulation statewide," he said.
Vanderploeg likes that idea as well. Over time, he wants to see all lead banned for hunting, including rifle bullets. He prefers copper bullets to lead, which are more likely to fragment and taint meat.
Vanderploeg said improvements in steel shot have made it competitive with lead in price and performance. He requires all those who hunt his property, for big game or birds, to shoot non-toxic bullets or shot.
"The result has been that the hunters still come to my place, gladly," he said.
Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com
Copyright 2011 Rapid City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
StoryDiscussionGF&P proposes lead shot ban for roads, right-of-ways
Kevin Woster Journal staff Rapid City Journal | Posted: Saturday, March 5, 2011 7:00 am | (10) Comments
The familiar debate over lead shot will return to public conversation in South Dakota because of a proposal by the state Game, Fish & Parks Commission to require nontoxic shot for hunting on public roads and right-of-ways.
The commission proposed the ban Thursday during a meeting in Pierre and will vote on whether to put it in regulation during its meeting April 7-8 in Brandon.
The ban was requested through a petition to the commission by Martin-area landowner Marty Vanderploeg. He wants to stop road hunters from scattering lead shot on his property when they blast at pheasants from the road.
Lead shot has been proven lethal when ingested by wildlife, and it poses an overall health and pollution threat in the environment, Vanderploeg said by telephone Friday.
"Lead is very toxic," he said. "It's being put on the surface we live on, the farmland. And groundwater is under it all. Fundamentally, it's a very poor practice."
The GF&P Commission began restricting the use of lead shot and requiring non-toxic alternatives such as steel shot in the early 1980s. Instances of lead poisoning in waterfowl populations near Pierre led to a limited ban along the river in that area. Eventually, lead was banned statewide for waterfowl hunting and for all hunting with shotguns on most public lands.
The lead bans of the past were controversial. Opponents said that steel shot, the main non-toxic alternative, was less effective, could damage some gun barrels, cost too much and led to increased rates of crippling. Supporter said those concerns were overblown and that benefits to wildlife justified the change.
Non-toxic alternatives to lead that are now approved by the state include steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix and any combination of tungsten-iron-nickel-tin-copper-bismuth. Copper-coated lead shot does not qualify as non-toxic shot.
Vanderploeg wants the existing non-toxic-shot requirements extended to cover public roads and right-of-ways, most of which are open to hunting with shotguns.
"Even with the restrictions, we're still losing a lot of waterfowl every year to lead," he said. "And a lot of raptors die, too, when they end up feeding on carcasses with lead in them."
The ban being proposed by the commission is aimed at shotguns. Most hunting from roads and right-of-ways is for upland birds, particularly pheasants. It is also a popular technique for shooting waterfowl flying over roads and right-of-ways near the Missouri River and other areas where ducks and geese congregate.
Hunting for deer and other big game, except for turkeys, is prohibited from roads and right-of-ways.
The GF&P biological staff has made a recommendation on the commission's proposal to extend the lead ban to roads and right-of-ways. Tony Leif, GF&P Wildlife Division director, said the staff will study and discuss the issue in order to provide an analysis for the commission prior to its vote next month.
"Basically, this proposal initiates a conversation," Leif said. "The commission wanted to get additional input on the petition by Mr. Vanderploeg."
Commissioner chairman Jeff Olson of Rapid City said the action by the commission Thursday simply started a month of consideration of Vanderploeg's idea.
"I think it is worth exploring and thus the main reason to accept his petition," Olson said. "We will see what the public thinks and also what the department comes up with as how enforceable it would be."
Mark Blote, an owner at First Stop Guns in Rapid City, said Friday that some hunters will oppose the proposal because they don't want to shoot steel shot, the most common lead alternative, in certain shotguns for fear of barrel damage. Steel and other lead alternatives also are difficult to get in certain loads and shotgun gauges and tend to be more expensive than lead.
"I think it would put a burden on some of the fellows who road hunt, because they're not going to be able to use all the guns they could use before," Blote said. "If they show there's a lot of problems with shooting lead from roads, I could understand. But I don't think they have done that. I think most road hunters would probably prefer not to have the ban."
Blote said he also worries that a lead ban for roads and right-of-ways could be another step toward banning lead shot totally.
"I'm concerned that this would be the next step for a non-tox regulation statewide," he said.
Vanderploeg likes that idea as well. Over time, he wants to see all lead banned for hunting, including rifle bullets. He prefers copper bullets to lead, which are more likely to fragment and taint meat.
Vanderploeg said improvements in steel shot have made it competitive with lead in price and performance. He requires all those who hunt his property, for big game or birds, to shoot non-toxic bullets or shot.
"The result has been that the hunters still come to my place, gladly," he said.
Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com
Copyright 2011 Rapid City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
