2008 ban seeing wide compliance
California hunters appear to be overwhelmingly complying with a
2008 law that bans use of lead-tipped hunting rounds across much of
the state.
2008 ban seeing wide compliance
California hunters appear to be overwhelmingly complying with a 2008 law that bans use of lead-tipped hunting rounds across much of the state.
“In general, sportsmen want to comply, even if they don’t always agree with the legislation,” said Jake Theyerl of Hollister. “Most hunters, myself included, generally try to follow the laws.”
Theyerl, who is employed by the Institute for Wildlife Studies, has been coordinating a series of events that allow hunters to try lead-free ammunition. The next event is Saturday, March 21, at the Sheriff’s Department training range just off Hwy. 25, one mile north of Hollister.
Assembly Bill 821 was authored by Pedro Nava, a Democrat whose Santa Barbara-area district includes prime California Condor habitat. The law is intended to minimize condors’ exposure to lead in the form of bullet fragments in animal carcasses.
California Condors are the center of an enormous recovery effort that includes captive breeding and close monitoring in the wild.
Locally, flocks have been established at Pinnacles National Monument and in Big Sur.
In spite of earlier efforts, the worldwide population of the birds declined to 22 by 1982, when scientists captured the last remaining wild bird.
Captive breeding was successful enough that biologists began releasing a few birds to the wild a decade later. Today, wild populations exist not only in this region but in Arizona and Baja California.
As long as lead remains in their environment, biologists say they must continue the expensive monitoring program, which includes testing the birds periodically for lead. When levels grow too high, they are captured and put through a blood chelation process estimated to cost as much as $1 million per bird.
AB 831 was one of the most politically charged issues the state Fish and Game Commission has faced in recent years. One commission member was pressured to resign, and the sportsmen’s lobbying group, the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, actively opposed a blanket ban, supporting a phased implementation.
In spite of that, research by Fish and Game shows that hunters and shooters are responding to the lead bullet restrictions about as positively as they did to earlier legislation mandating steel shotgun pellets for hunting waterfowl.
DFG offices in Monterey and San Luis Obispo recorded 27 positive comments about the law and 246 complaints, according to a Feb. 13 release from the department. Further east the reaction among Central Valley residents was even more vehement. The Fresno DFG office recorded only one positive call, 226 telephone complaints and 250 walk-in complaints.
But since the law took effect July 1, 2008, wardens logged about 6,490 hunting-related contacts. Only nine citations, 12 ammunition seizures and 63 warnings were issued for use of lead in non-lead areas.
Much of the credit for compliance probably is due to the kind of events Theyerl is staging March 21. DFG reported that only 28 of the hunters using lead claimed they were unaware of the regulation change.
The lead-free shooting event March 21 is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own rifles and adequate ear and eye protection.
While supplies last, non-lead ammunition will be provided for .22 Win. Mag., .223 Rem., .243 Win., .25-06 Rem. .270 Win., 7 mm Rem. Mag., .30 Carbine, 30/30 Win., .30-06 Spring., .308 Win., .338 Win. Mag.
Snacks and beverages also will be provided. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Fish and Game, the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Pinnacles National Monument and the Ventana Wildlife Society.
The Institute for Wildlife Studies is an Arcata-based nonprofit organization that describes itself as “dedicated to the conservation of wildlife species, habitats and biodiversity.”
“I think it’s great that hunters are accepting the fact of switching over,” Theyerl said. “This is something that local hunters can really be proud of.”
