2012-2013 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide - New York State ...

HIGH teCH bullets
aND sluGs
Copper and other “monolithic” ammo:
Lethal on deer and good for conservation
By Gordon Batcheller, Chief Wildlife Biologist, NYS DEC
wHeN I DroPPeD tHe HaMMer,
the deer dropped in her tracks. I
witnessed the same performance four
times last fall. One shot: a clean, quick
kill. I was impressed with my new copper
slugs and bullets. They did the job.
Ammo manufacturers are now producing
high-tech bullets and slugs to meet
a growing market in non-lead rounds for
big game hunting. My 20 gauge shotgun
and .308 rifle are loaded with pure
copper ammo. Other manufacturers are
producing similar “monolithic” bullets
from alloys, all of which share one thing
in common: they contain no lead. And,
they work. As New York’s Chief Wildlife
Biologist, I am encouraging New York’s
deer hunters to take a look at options
for high-tech ammo. You’ll be impressed
with the performance of these non-lead
rounds. There are other benefits from
making the switch to copper and other
monolithic bullets and slugs—you will
produce more high-quality venison
with less meat damage, and you will
eliminate the risk that scavenging wildlife,
particularly eagles, will get sick or die
from eating lead fragments. Non-lead:
Good for hunting; good for high quality
venison; good for conservation.
To learn more about alternatives to lead
ammo, see www.huntingwithnonlead.org
and www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/48420.html.
E-mail us your comments or experiences
with nonlead ammo: email to
fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us; type
“nonlead ammo" in the subject line.
High tech copper and similar monolithic solid
bullets are available in many popular cartridges
at prices comparable to premium lead ammo.
They produce near perfect mushrooms that are
deadly for big game hunting.
Copper ammo is also available for shotguns in
both 12 and 20 gauge. Copper slugs (right) form
perfect mushrooms and are an excellent choice
for New York deer hunters.
Copper and other monolithic bullets (right)
are harder and don’t break apart like lead bullets
(left). Because they stay intact throughout the
wound channel, they produce massive shock
for clean, quick kills.
Copper bullets in sabots (left) are available
for modern muzzleloading rifles. They are nearly
identical to lead bullets in sabots (right).
36 2012–13 Hunting & Trapping Guide