Another Conservation Board Approves use of Lead-free Shot and Tackle in Areas

Press release from the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board:

“The Pottawattamie County Conservation Board will be requiring the use of non-toxic shot and tackle on its hunting & fishing areas within Pottawattamie County beginning in 2016. As national concerns and potential impacts from lead poisoning are becoming more common the county conservation board has decided to implement this new policy to alleviate some of the concerns and potential environmental impact from hunting and fishing activities on county-owned properties.

Lead poisoning is most prevalent through direct ingestion from spent lead shot and bullets, lost fishing sinkers, lead tackle, or through the consumption of wounded of dead prey containing lead shot, bullets, or fragments according to the USGS. Raptor Recovery of Nebraska and SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources) see numerous cases of lead poisoning in specimens brought in each year.

The conservation board is attempting to mitigate some of these issues on their areas by going lead-free. Thousands of visitors, outdoorsmen, and hunters visit conservation board areas each year to hunt, fish, bird watch, view wildlife, hike, and enjoy the outdoors. By switching to lead-free areas, this will allow the current and future biodiversity of these areas to thrive for future generations to enjoy.”