Request to Amend Regulations Regarding Methods of Take - Nonlead Ammunition Agenda Item 15 Fish and Game Commission December 3, 2014 Dan Yparraguirre, Wildlife and Fisheries Division

3 Wildlife Resources Committee meetings 13 other workshops and meetings Today’s request to go to Notice Discussion in February Possible Adoption in April Started the CEQA process Completed Initial Study and Checklist Held Public Scoping Meeting Draft Environmental Document in January

September WRC – handed out draft text 5 technical changes for clarity and consistency: Moved nontoxic shot language from General Provisions (c)(2) to Definitions (b)(3).

Revised cross references in General Provisions to reflect the above change.

Added clarification statement in subsection (d)

Removed the phrase “except as provided in subsection (c)” from subsections (d)(1), (d)(2), and (d)(3) since that language occurs under General Provisions. Revised cross reference in subsection (d)(2) to reflect move of language regarding nontoxic shot to Definitions. No changes in proposed phasing from September

2015: Nonlead required for: Wildlife Areas and Ecological Reserves Bighorn sheep 2016: Nonlead required for: Larger (most) game birds, including turkeys (waterfowl size shot) Small game mammals (by shotgun) Non-game, depredation and furbearers (by shotgun) Except on Licensed Game Bird Clubs (2019)

Nonlead would be required for the take of all wildlife: All big game All remaining game birds Small game mammals (by rifle/handgun) Non-game, depredation and furbearers (by rifle/handgun) Muzzleloaders

Wildlife Society Bulletin DOI: /wsb.504 A Comparison of Lead and Steel Shot Loads for Harvesting Mourning Doves BRIAN L. PIERCE, 1 Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX , USA THOMAS A. ROSTER, 1190 Lynnewood Boulevard, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, USA MICHAEL C. FRISBIE, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, USA COREY D. MASON, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, USA JAY A. ROBERSON, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, USA

Among 1 lead and 2 steel loads Using volunteer hunters with unmarked shells Trained professional observers, who observed: No differences among shot types in birds bagged or wounded per shot No differences among shot types in distance of birds bagged or wounded Necropsy analysis: No differences in 3 measures of killing efficiency Ammo and choke combinations with higher pattern density = more effective

Cooperative National Dove Hunter Survey FINDINGS National Flyway Council

National Dove Hunter Survey Sample…  The 26-question survey was sent to randomly selected hunters, drawn from the Harvest Information Program (HIP) database, in the 40 states with dove hunting seasons in June  Sample size was approx. 800 per state to ensure survey results are applicable at the national, regional (e.g., Dove Management Unit (DMU) and state levels.  30,382 surveys successfully delivered, 12,631 hunters responded—earning a 41.6% response rate.  Rounded margin of error for national estimates is 1%, and for DMU estimates, 2% (95% confidence level).

DOVE HUNTERS ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF LEAD ON THE HEALTH OF DOVES & OTHER WILDLIFE… Roughly 1 in 5 respondents answered that concerns about lead shot consumption by wildlife have been explained to hunters—the other 4 of 5 hunters are either “neutral,” “don’t know,” or “agree” that explanation is lacking.  Don’t know if eating lead shot causes doves to die (~50%)  Concerned that non-lead shot cripples doves more than lead shot (~50%)  Think because doves have short lifespan, lead exposure doesn’t effect dove populations (40%)  Believe that the U.S. can’t limit health effects of lead on dove populations because countries south of U.S.-Mexico border have no restrictions (51%)

…Dove hunters believe that hunting participation would be impacted. (1) 36% would “probably quit hunting doves if required to use non-lead shot” (39% disagreed) (2) ~50% think requiring non-lead shot would reduce the number of young people recruited to hunting (3) ~50% would probably reduce the number of trips they take to go dove hunting But if non-lead shot was required…

Dove hunters mainly get their info from: (1) Friends & family (79%) (2) Magazines (64%) (3) State wildlife agency (61%) (4) Internet (58%) (5) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (47%) (6) TV (36%) (7) Sporting goods store (32%) (8) Newspapers (28%) (9) Radio (13%)

DOVE HUNTERS TRUST… Avid/experienced dove hunters to represent the interest of dove hunters & they rely mostly upon friends/family and the Internet for hunting information. AND THEY SORT OF TRUST… Medium Level of Trust  Game wardens, hunting organizations, wildlife biologists, hunting guides, ammunition manufacturers and hunting businesses Medium-Low Level of Trust  Outdoor writers and staff at sporting goods stores

/index.php?section=dove-hunter- survey&activator=89 Or type “National Dove Hunter Survey” in a search engine