eelgrass
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 31,945
Some of you might know that the Yurok Indian Tribe is trying to re-introduce the Condor to the Klamath River basin in NW California. (for whatever reason). They have a biologist working on the project and he gave a presentation last night here in Eureka. Along with that, they had a ammo exchange, where you could trade a box of lead ammo for a box of non-lead ammo.
I thought WTH. I'll put a bag over my head and check it out.
There was only about 20 of us.
To his credit, this biologist is very pro hunter. He recognizes the role we play in wildlife management and how important our heritage is.
The presentation was pretty convincing if you believe their studies (a big if, I know). One thing that was kind of an eye opener for me was how a lead bullet fragments when shot into an animal. You always hear about a bullet with 90% weight retention (or 95%). Even if you have a pass through, a certain amount of lead is left behind in the carcass. He had a slide show that showed x-rayed animals with the lead fragments left behind. He even had a block of gel that was shot with lead showing the splintered lead. Rigged? Who knows?
After the speech he took questions. One old gentleman (a handsome guy I might add) asked that since the lead ban in 2008, why have condors continued to show lead poisoning? He said that they don't know. Maybe the condors are traveling outside the protected area?
Someone else asked about the possibility of copper being banned because it is considered "armor piercing". His answer was that there is a provision in the current proposal that states that if copper is banned, the whole deal is off and that lead would once again be legal. He stated that our own Fish & Wildlife insisted on that addition before they would endorse the bill.
I don't know, I guess it's coming one way or the other. Don't throw me under the bus! I'm as conservative as anyone here!
Eel
BTW, I put together a box of old mismatched ammo from different brands, bullet styles, and weights for my 300 Win Mag and traded it for a box of Hornady Superformance 165gr. GMX. About a $45 value. I'm pretty curious to see how they perform.
I thought WTH. I'll put a bag over my head and check it out.
There was only about 20 of us.To his credit, this biologist is very pro hunter. He recognizes the role we play in wildlife management and how important our heritage is.
The presentation was pretty convincing if you believe their studies (a big if, I know). One thing that was kind of an eye opener for me was how a lead bullet fragments when shot into an animal. You always hear about a bullet with 90% weight retention (or 95%). Even if you have a pass through, a certain amount of lead is left behind in the carcass. He had a slide show that showed x-rayed animals with the lead fragments left behind. He even had a block of gel that was shot with lead showing the splintered lead. Rigged? Who knows?
After the speech he took questions. One old gentleman (a handsome guy I might add
) asked that since the lead ban in 2008, why have condors continued to show lead poisoning? He said that they don't know. Maybe the condors are traveling outside the protected area?Someone else asked about the possibility of copper being banned because it is considered "armor piercing". His answer was that there is a provision in the current proposal that states that if copper is banned, the whole deal is off and that lead would once again be legal. He stated that our own Fish & Wildlife insisted on that addition before they would endorse the bill.
I don't know, I guess it's coming one way or the other. Don't throw me under the bus! I'm as conservative as anyone here!
Eel
BTW, I put together a box of old mismatched ammo from different brands, bullet styles, and weights for my 300 Win Mag and traded it for a box of Hornady Superformance 165gr. GMX. About a $45 value. I'm pretty curious to see how they perform.
