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There is an article published on the Atlantic where they make this insane jump that bald eagles are dying because of lead from carcassess that were shot with.....lead bullets. Ok this is easy to beat this propaganda or even defense if its true. Carry out all the carcasses, cant blame it on lead ammo, I also disagree that bald eagles are in danger. In Louisiana we have so many, despite all of our water pollution problems and they arent slowing down.
Send letter to politicians about how you always carry out the carcass and that these jokers are full of crap.
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: MattLA]
#7704206 10/30/2212:05 AM10/30/2212:05 AM
This is the entire theory behind why we must use nontoxic shot on waterfowl. The way I understand, it doesn't kill the eagle itself but causes thier eggs to have very thin shells, leading to little to no recruitment of young eagles. Not saying I agree with the need to use steel shot...just what I read.
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: MattLA]
#7704245 10/30/2201:44 AM10/30/2201:44 AM
This is the same BS they used for the California Condor deaths that lead to the banning of all lead in Commifornia. If you dig really deep though, a group of scientists, whom I assume have since been shunned, realized that it was actually from the lead paint at these birds perched at a former military site that was causing the lead poisoning. That was from back in the 90’s if I recall correctly. They were feeding the young scraps that had lead paint flakes stuck them. I will try and dig this up if I have time today.
Long live the MAGA King
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: jbyrd63]
#7704300 10/30/2207:05 AM10/30/2207:05 AM
So the eagles and other raptor species recovered from the DDT caused decline in a time when all bullets and shot were lead, and there were even more hunters in the field than today, but now lead is causing eagles to be threatened. Easy to see that doesn't make sense.
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: fishnhunts]
#7704358 10/30/2208:12 AM10/30/2208:12 AM
This is the entire theory behind why we must use nontoxic shot on waterfowl. The way I understand, it doesn't kill the eagle itself but causes thier eggs to have very thin shells, leading to little to no recruitment of young eagles. Not saying I agree with the need to use steel shot...just what I read.
Waterfowl are seed eaters, their gizzard grinds down the lead so it can poison them. I don't think meat-eating birds even have a gizzard.
So the eagles and other raptor species recovered from the DDT caused decline in a time when all bullets and shot were lead, and there were even more hunters in the field than today, but now lead is causing eagles to be threatened. Easy to see that doesn't make sense.
Well said, EP, but logic has no effect on environmental wackos and animal rights nut jobs.
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: MattLA]
#7704375 10/30/2208:38 AM10/30/2208:38 AM
I got enough lead bullets and shot to hunt anything I want the rest of my life. You guys need to start buying now so there will be fewer posts complaining about the shortage later.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: MattLA]
#7704382 10/30/2208:47 AM10/30/2208:47 AM
I don’t think it’s a phantom coincidence that the raptor center at the U of M has a big influx of sick raptors come in each year after deer season……sick with chards of lead in them from eating gut piles and wounded deer with shrapnolled bullets.
That said, I don’t think it has a significant effect on the raptor population at all. Either way, I switched to all copper ammo for my big game hunting a handful of years ago. If not for the current ammo shortage, I think switching to copper ammo is one of the easiest things is hunters can do to reinforce the fact that we do care for the critters. Fact of the matter is, it’s coming for all public lands whether you like it or not. Starting next year all MN State Park hunts require it.
Ammo manufacturers need to get on the wagon and up production for ALL calibers ASAP! Not only does the copper not directly poison the critters like lead, but it’s superior in mass retention when hitting the animal and will often hold the petals. Many African safari hunters have been shooting Barnes and other all copper bullets for this reason.
Should we switch to all copper for target shooting and such? Absolutely NOT! Yes, I know competitive shooters and mega distance folks will complain that all of them shoot a little different which is true. But MOST people it wouldn’t matter a lick. My uncle always said, if you can hit a paper plate, it’s a dead deer.
Happy trapping! ScottW
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: MattLA]
#7704383 10/30/2208:49 AM10/30/2208:49 AM
I also look at it another way…..we need to pick our battles, and this isn’t one worth wasting much energy or political clout on IMO. Happy trapping! ScottW
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: warrior]
#7704390 10/30/2208:58 AM10/30/2208:58 AM
I keep seeing more and more eagles here every year. Too many actually. A ranch in this area actually got the green light to control them a few years ago because they were causing harm during calving season.
Re: lead ammo eagle poisoning
[Re: MattLA]
#7704419 10/30/2209:25 AM10/30/2209:25 AM
The Meateater podcast covered this topic not long ago. It’s worth a listen whether you want to believe it or not. I believe there is truth to it, but it is insignificant on large scale populations. Lead poisoning is real, eagles eat gut piles which often contain lead fragments, therefore lead poisoning in eagles is likely real. A good point was made on the podcast - there are far more people who like eagles than there are people who hunt - so ignoring the issue puts hunters in a bad light and we risk losing support from some non-hunters.
I’ve been sayin yes sir all day at work, I’ve been sayin yes ma’am at home…
We had more birds, bugs and small game when ddt was used then we have now
Same here , we had birds of every kind when DDT was still in use. Now you see nothing here - rarely see a sparrow nowadays around here. Also in the last few years the car windows don't have any bug splatter on them when you drive.