Posted on 03/09/2007 2:38:35 PM PST by neverdem
Fish and Game Commission considering four possible courses of action
A possible ban on lead bullets for hunting will be on the state Fish and Game Commission agenda when it meets next month in Bodega Bay.
The commission voted unanimously at its Feb. 2 meeting in Monterey to serve notice of its intent to amend hunting regulations for 2007-2010 with an aim of eliminating lead bullets in the California condor range.
It did not take action on the issue at Friday's commission meeting in Arcata, postponing action on the lead bullet ban to its April 13 meeting in Bodega Bay.
Commission president Robert Hattoy, 56, a strong supporter of the lead bullet ban, died Sunday at University of California-Davis Medical Center of complications related to AIDS. He was not present at the meeting Friday.
Hattoy and commissioner Richard Rogers both argued at the Monterey meeting that lead bullet fragments in game meat pose a threat not only to the condors but to the health of hunters and their families that consume them.
The commission is considering four action alternatives related to lead-containing bullets: take no action, ban the ammunition in specific deer-hunting areas, ban it statewide, or offer hunters incentives to voluntarily use nonleaded ammunition while hunting deer, elk, wild pigs and other large animals.
The specific hunting areas proposed include most of those west of the Sierra Nevada -- areas A, D9, D10 and D11 on Fish and Game maps.
Those are areas in which boundaries are already well known to deer hunters, according to Eric Loft, chief wildlife biologist for the Department of Fish and Game. Bullet restrictions within them would apply to all big-game hunting.
Last month, Tejon Ranch Corp. announced that nonlead ammunition will be required for all hunting and predator control on the 270,000-acre Southern California ranch starting this fall to protect condors that forage there.
Last November, a consortium of environmental activists, including the Wishtoyo Foundation, Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Natural Resources Defense Council, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles seeking a ban on the use of lead bullets by hunters in the state's condor ranges.
The plaintiffs cited studies showing that lead from bullets left in carcasses or gut piles from game animals is a major source of lead poisoning in the rare and endangered condors.
The assertion that lead bullets and fragments in carcasses eaten by condors are a major source of lead poisoning for the endangered birds was confirmed in August by scientists at UC-Santa Cruz. They published a study online in the journal Environmental Science & Technology that examined and analyzed lead from rifle bullets and shotgun pellets.
The UC-Santa Cruz researchers used a "fingerprinting" technique based on the unique isotope ratios found in different sources of lead. The technique enabled them to match the lead in blood samples from condors to the lead in ammunition.
The ban would extend to bullets from centerfire ammunition, muzzleloading balls, shotgun slugs and buckshot used for taking both game and non-game animals. Rimfire .22 caliber ammunition is not included in the proposed ban.
The California condor was declared endangered by the federal government in 1967 and by the state in 1971. In 1987, the last 22 wild condors were trapped and taken to zoos for a captive breeding program that has raised the condor population to just less than 300.
The commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. April 13 in the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory Lecture Hall, 2099 Westside Road, Bodega Bay.
Kevin Howe can be reached at 646-4416 or khowe@montereyherald.com.
Paging "The Birds"
Depleted fuel has better ballistic characteristics and small shrapnel can be easily located with a meter.
How long until both sets of rules effectively outlaw ammunition sales in Californistan?
"Ban" is just about the liberals' favorite word.
When it comes to abortion and porn, though, anything goes.
Oh, and flag-burning too.
I cant imagine that it is centerfire bullets causing the problem - it is probably shot form shotguns which has been outlawed some time for migratory birds I believe.
Its very unlikely that a bullet would remain in a carcass and then be consumed.
It's real easy to find better places to live. Realtor.com and some careful research made relocating to Pocatello, ID pretty easy. Houses are moving quite as quickly right now, so you'll have time to plan carefully.
Odd?
Why do you think that?
He's still voting, isn't he?
However, we all know that citizens will be prohibited from using these bullets, but anyone in the government can use them.
You rang?
Cowbirds run 'mafia racket' over eggs (6)
Medical 'dirty secret' out in open
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
Is this what Jocelyn Elders meant by "Safer Bullets?"
Banning lead ammunition is simply an attack on cheap ammo and
do it yourselfers, (Bullet casters).
I had a similar thought. I think they were discussing last Friday, Feb. 2, but the guy was too sick.
"......an attack on cheap ammo and
do it yourselfers...."
Excellent point.
Folks that reload are going to hate this.
If the study is accurate, 77% of the Condors tested had lead poisoning from ammunition sources. I sure hope they aren't contemplating a statewide ban.
I hear that bullets cause global warming.
And obesity.
A CONDOR is a VULTURE, nothing more, nothing less. And ENDANGERED is not the correct word, try OBSOLETE.
The condor is just a big damn buzzard that some gun grabber may care about, but more likely is just using that as a pretext to harrass gun owners.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.