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

"non-leaD:
Good for hunting;
good for high quality venison;
good for conservation."
Traditional muzzleloading bullets travel slower than high-speed rifle
ammo, and remain largely intact when shot at big game. This means there is
less risk of lead fragments being eaten by scavenging wildlife.
The picture is from 2010, NY#68 Pond Eddy
(Delaware River), taken February 22 while they
were setting up for the breeding season. They
were successful in fledging one young. The photo
was taken by Scott Rando, a long-time volunteer.
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Gordon Batcheller is a 32 year veteran of DEC and New York’s Chief Wildlife
Biologist. He is also an avid deer hunter.
© Andreykuzmin | Dreamstime.com
Lead bullets begin breaking apart as soon as they enter a deer. The bullet
fragments reduce the amount of clean venison available to hunters, and
increase the chances that scavenging wildlife, including bald eagles, may
eat lead and get sick when they feed on the gut pile or find a wounded deer.
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Bald eagles have recovered in New York, and their population continues to grow. However, since
2010, DEC examined 14 eagles that died of lead poisoning after eating lead ammo fragments. Hunters
who choose to switch to the new high tech bullets and slugs will know that they are not contributing to
the potential death of our national bird.
2012–13 Hunting & Trapping Guide 37
Image courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources