Lead Poisoning Research
A research paper has been published showing the continued effects of lead poisoning to Raptors in the Uk and Europe. They tend to eat the prey that has been killed but not collected.
In addition pheasant shoots still use buckshot, thus spreading the lead.
When, oh, when will the "hunters", I prefer a few stronger words but don't wish to be edited, start to think about the environment and the collateral damage they are doing and not just to the "prey" that they are killing?
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220316091725.htm
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Yes, they even know what they are doing and the damage they are causing to the raptors, the environment and fellow humans. 99.4% of pheasants shot in the UK are peppered with lead. In fact the whole food chain is being poisoned! They, the game birds are even entering the human food chain via our well known supermarkets and little if anything is done about this toxic problem. It’s littering our land! No excuses what so ever, it needs to be banned completely!
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As you would expect a view from me.I doubt if the lead shot in the eaten birds cause any real risk to the eaters, its only a trace and most people have an aversion to "wild" things on a shelf. Every lettuce you eat has been sprayed eleven times and carries a trace from each dose. Bet some of that stuff is just as toxic. OK some will be organic but its only a small,middle class minority that pays the premium. As for the wider issue I see the point.The problem is the sprayers of lead shot on pheasant shoots arnt country peoople, its a sport for the rich and the latest thing in" networking". They dont know whats in a cartridge and care even less. Likewise they dont care about the birds, the environment they shoot in, its just a days sport. Back home in our Chelsea Tractors afterwards, thank you very much. Sorry I dont have a ready answer.
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Fish, it matters not one single jot who is firing the gun, what matters is that this toxic material needs to be banned completely. The damage is done across many habitats and the poisoning is having a detrimental effect on wide life and humans. The game sport industry, their associated bodies, the Government, the manufacturers of said material and everyone who owns a shot gun need to act up and do their bit, even the enlightened ones have a role to play in this. This is a world wide problem and we can lead with and alongside several other countries in having a ban in place.
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Once again there is a great deal of deflection here with talk of lettuces and Chelsea tractors.
However, fish, as you say ‘they’ don’t know what’s in the cartridge and that’s where you as an enlightened one who doesn’t use lead (I presume) need step up, support a proper ban and educate those who know nothing as to the error of their ways and the damage they are causing. That damage is very real and widespread. There is a suggestion that the levels of ingested lead in the wild bird population is considerably lowering their immune response along with breeding success. Can’t help with their fighting off avian flu I guess.
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In the real world, us individuals just dont count. Nothing you or I say will make a jot to those either with a vested interest or power. Just gnash your teeth. No deflection just pointing out that in the food chain there are much worse things than the odd lead shot,which lets face it you would spit out and not swallow. My way of dispatching the pheasants I eat is with my powerful airgun. No problem there me thinks. As for the vermin I cull its usually with a rifle so no lead scatter.
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Those individuals in Denmark, Holland, Costa Rica along with other countries certainly did count and they brought about bans.
There are many super examples of individuals making a difference in all sorts of areas of our legislative process. So why not with this? To say we can’t make a difference is totally incorrect. Where there is a will and all that! Science is on our side as I’m sure would be the vast majority of the British population if we educate them. Good to hear that you are a non lead shot user, you just need to step up and make your voice heard as those that do are letting you down. It will happen, it is just that a few are resisting for selfish reasons. We shouldn’t be defeatist and we shouldn’t let them dictate their wants.1 -
Actually Fish I don't agree with this "it isn't country folk" that you use and just blame the "Chelsea Tractor" drivers etc.
I live in a village in Wales where there are 2 Estates that I can walk to and through that have Pheasant Shoots. Both of these are well supported by shooters from our village and those nearby. People who have lived in the countryside all of their life.
Yes, there will be some who are out on a corporate shoot who then go home to the city but the "country folk" are polluting the countryside with lead shot as much as the city folk.
There's no real excuse that can be made, not when there are viable alternatives.
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There is the difference.The local shoot is not profit orientated I guess, but a hobby.They probably do more for the environment than most, in a balanced way.The birds will be eaten by the members,friends and the community not burried. No doubt they spend hours on habitat improvement etc. Like me there is an army of individuals who do their little things like planting acorns, hedge laying etc in a quiet way,without the need to emblazon themselves under some eco sheme or worship at the altar of some celebrity. As for lead free shot I dont know how readily they are available as have not brought any shotgun cartridges for years.
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There are several suppliers of non toxic shot in the UK, Fish. Some countries only sell this by law. Get yours here folk!
https://gamebore.com/uk/cartridges/game/premium-non-toxic0 -
Two years ago, Countryside Alliance, along with all the other shooting organisations called for a voluntary phase-out of lead shot by 2025.This season has, for the first time, seen a range of steel cartridges suitable for game shooting available from all the major manufacturers and there are indications that several major shoots going ‘lead free’ next season to meet growing demand for game shot with alternatives. The biggest challenge to phasing out lead completely would seem to be component supply issues resulting from the pandemic and especially the import of steel shot from China.
There is no doubt that lead shot will be banned completely in the next few years, as it has been from paint, petrol and other products. I, for one, will be making the switch and have recently had my gun checked to make sure it has been proofed for use with steel shot.
The other issue, which no one has mentioned, is the use of cartridges with plastic wadding and is almost as damaging to the environment as lead. This is equally simple to solve by the use of fibre wadding and other such biodegradable substances. Many shoots are now banning the use of cartridges with plastic wads.
In my experience, most people who participate in shooting care very deeply about the countryside and our environment and do a great deal to protect it - unlike some others I could mention. I think to some extent, this thread is pushing on an open door.
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Thanks Richard for your excellent contribution to the discussion which offers a positive and knowledgeable insight into the changes now being made. Good news too that you yourself are in the process of making the change to non toxic shot.
You make very valid points about the use of non biodegradable materials in the cartridge body and that of the wadding. I’ve often wondered why, with regard to the spent cartridge itself, why this is not pickupable. I’m sure many do pick up but I still find spent cartridges littered around on my walks. I guess this is the thoughtless ones doing this. I know once gathered up the materials do need processing but at least they are not left out on the moors and the countryside. Good also to hear that many shoots are now banning plastic wadding. Fibre is the way to go don’t you think, after all, this material was the preferred one prior to plastic as was cardboard for the body.
I think, as you say, that door is ajar and now the pressure needs to be kept up on the Government in order to make this ‘detoxification’ of the sport outright law and not just a voluntary action. Yes, I’m so pleased there are enlightened shooters who are mindful and are acting but they are not the problem, its the ‘others’. Maybe it hinges on those like you to put some extra pressure on them. The final ‘tidying up’, as you say is coming, it just needs the knobs on those doors pushing a little harder.👍
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Totally agree about spent cartridges causing litter Micky - and it annoys me as well. I always go home with as many cartridges as I left with - only some go in the re-cycling! The shoot I used to go picking-up on (can't often afford to go as 'gun' on driven shoots!) always had one of the 'pickers-up' go round with a magnetic prod to pick up all the spent cartridges.
In case you're wondering - no Meg isn't a working dog - she's too soft and doesn't like getting her feet wet
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Sort of linked by association but why on earth are we depleting woodcock numbers even further by this ‘method’ in the name of sport?
https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/129152002/verify?token=5N_7Juek38QUmB8X3sc-
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