Hunters and their evil lead bullets

Perhaps this is a trend that hunters should take note of, the talking up of the evils of lead bullets, wrapped neatly in the anti-hunting packaging of "conservation science".

From Montana:

Local golden eagle migration research may indicate dangers associated with the use of lead bullets, especially health risks to human consumers of big game meat, researchers say.

The high levels of lead found in the eagles is a result of the birds feeding on the carcasses of animals that were shot by hunters using lead bullets, meaning the meat could be unfit for people to eat.

“A lot of these eagles are coming in with lead levels that could be fatal to human beings,” said Tyler Veto, a wildlife biologist for the Missoula-based Raptor View Research Institute.

Rob Domenech, executive director and founder of the institute, said more than 50 percent of the eagles they tested in 2007 have a greater-than-background level of lead in their blood.

“And that’s cause for concern,” he said.

Article here.


Another article from North Dakota:

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A North Dakota program that distributes venison to the needy will accept only deer killed with arrows, fearing that firearm-shot meat may contain lead fragments.

"We're calling out to bow hunters to spend a little more time in the tree stand," said Ann Pollert, executive director of the North Dakota Community Action Partnership, which administers the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program.

Officials in North Dakota and other states have warned about eating venison killed with lead ammunition since the spring, when a physician conducting tests using a CT scanner found lead in samples of donated deer meat.

The findings led North Dakota's health department to order food pantries to throw out donated venison. Some groups that organize venison donations have called such actions premature and unsupported by science.

Article here.