Goose Hunters... Teach Me Something Here

[somdshootnet]

I have been in debates with someone about the laws of Non-Tox for waterfowl in the state of Maryland. There is no statements in any rule book that I know of that says you can not use lead in non-water hunting scenarios, like a field, which is nowhere near any water. Help me out here.

Do you have to use Non-Tox shot regardless if you are hunting waterfowl over water or not.

If you hunt Geese or Ducks over grass fields do you still have to use non-tox shot?

The reason for the discussion is old, but, the question is the same, Why do we have to use steel shot if we're not hunting over water?

[Baja28 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by somdshootnet

I have been in debates with someone about the laws of Non-Tox for waterfowl in the state of Maryland. There is no statements in any rule book that I know of that says you can not use lead in non-water hunting scenarios, like a field, which is nowhere near any water. Help me out here.

Do you have to use Non-Tox shot regardless if you are hunting waterfowl over water or not.

If you hunt Geese or Ducks over grass fields do you still have to use non-tox shot?

The reason for the discussion is old, but, the question is the same, Why do we have to use steel shot if we're not hunting over water?

You have to use non-tox for all waterfowl regardless where you're hunting because the birds eat it. Has nothing to do with hunting over water.

[twinoaks207 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Baja28

You have to use non-tox for all waterfowl regardless where you're hunting because the birds eat it. Has nothing to do with hunting over water.

or get shot with it and then we eat the birds....

[NorthBeachPerso]

As Baja said-all waterfowl hunting is done with non-tox. That's a federal rule, by the way.

It does seem strange that you can hunt doves with lead and then 2 months later hunt geese from the same field but have to use non-tox, but those are the rules.

Some Mid-Western states are now requiring non-tox for upland hunting, too. Some research is showing lead poisoning problems in pheasant, quail and other upland birds. They pick it up like they do small stones to grind food in their crops.

Also, when the rabbit cops check you they look at three things especially:
1) You have the right license/stamps (in MD you need both the Federal and the State waterfowl stamps)
2) your shotgun is plugged to 3 shot max
3) you have non-tox shells only. Some guys have been cited just for having lead shells in their vehicle. They couldn't prove they didn't take it in the field with them.

[Pasofever]

fact in NY they do not sell lead weights but you can use them if you buy them out of state and bring them in (for fishing)

[somdshootnet]

Originally Posted by NorthBeachPerso

As Baja said-all waterfowl hunting is done with non-tox. That's a federal rule, by the way.

It does seem strange that you can hunt doves with lead and then 2 months later hunt geese from the same field but have to use non-tox, but those are the rules.

Some Mid-Western states are now requiring non-tox for upland hunting, too. Some research is showing lead poisoning problems in pheasant, quail and other upland birds. They pick it up like they do small stones to grind food in their crops.

Also, when the rabbit cops check you they look at three things especially:
1) You have the right license/stamps (in MD you need both the Federal and the State waterfowl stamps)
2) your shotgun is plugged to 3 shot max Unless they are Resident Canada Geese
3) you have non-tox shells only. Some guys have been cited just for having lead shells in their vehicle. They couldn't prove they didn't take it in the field with them.

I got everything I need.

[twinoaks207 (Premo)]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthBeachPerso http://forums.somd.com/images/button...c/viewpost.gif
As Baja said-all waterfowl hunting is done with non-tox. That's a federal rule, by the way.

It does seem strange that you can hunt doves with lead and then 2 months later hunt geese from the same field but have to use non-tox, but those are the rules.

Some Mid-Western states are now requiring non-tox for upland hunting, too. Some research is showing lead poisoning problems in pheasant, quail and other upland birds. They pick it up like they do small stones to grind food in their crops.

Also, when the rabbit cops check you they look at three things especially:
1) You have the right license/stamps (in MD you need both the Federal and the State waterfowl stamps)
2) your shotgun is plugged to 3 shot max Unless they are Resident Canada Geese
3) you have non-tox shells only. Some guys have been cited just for having lead shells in their vehicle. They couldn't prove they didn't take it in the field with them.

by somdshootnet: I got everything I need.

Not to stir things up or anything but if you are hunting in one of the local hunting areas, how do you know if they are "Resident Geese"? I mean, the things fly around so how do you know for sure where they are from? It's not like they carry passports or resident alien documents and let you inspect them whenever you ask (unless, of course, they're Arizona geese!).

[NorthBeachPerso]

The Resident Goose season is 2 weeks in Sept. when you can unplug your shotgun and you can shoot 8 per day. The later seasons are considered Atlantic Population migrants and you only could get 2 per day (this year's regs aren't set yet). In Charles west of 301 you still had the higher bag limit in prior years, that hasn't been set yet for this year.

[Katelin (Premo)]

Originally Posted by somdshootnet

I have been in debates with someone about the laws of Non-Tox for waterfowl in the state of Maryland. There is no statements in any rule book that I know of that says you can not use lead in non-water hunting scenarios, like a field, which is nowhere near any water. Help me out here.

Do you have to use Non-Tox shot regardless if you are hunting waterfowl over water or not.

If you hunt Geese or Ducks over grass fields do you still have to use non-tox shot?

The reason for the discussion is old, but, the question is the same, Why do we have to use steel shot if we're not hunting over water?

I am not sure just what the regs tell you about using lead shot, but please dont.
I have rescued a good number of sick birds suffering from lead poisoning. and the numbers nations wide are pretty high!
Eagles eat on dead animals and injest the lead..it is ground up in the crop and absorbed into the body...over time the lead levels rise and they get sick and die. It is the same with owls, hawks, geese, swans, ducks....the later are "dabblers" and injest the lead shot from the bottom of ponds, creeks, marshes, etc, and it gets ground up in the crop.

Lead poisoning is a horrible way to die for any animal. The cost to treat and rescue these birds is high..many do survive to be released back to the wild.
There is still so much lead left out there from the decades of hunting...please dont add more.

If you as a hunter have a choice..please use non toxic shot.

There is a lot of info on the web about this ..and here is one site that will give you more info; Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative

Thank you.....

[somdshootnet]

Well, I just bought 2 boxes of the 3" and a box of the 3.5" from Able's. I am not going to run all over Southern Maryland looking for something that does not exist around here. and I'm not paying Fred's $30.00 a box for the cheapest thing they have. So, the Able's investment with shipping was $56.00

The problem here in Southern Maryland is we have nothing but these little "hole in the wall" ammo shops who want to charge 200% markup and only carry 2 types of steel shot shells, so, if I have to order a box of something for $12.55 /25 rather then buy something locally for $30.00 /25 I'm all about it. I figured the $14.00 shipping was cheaper then the $25.00 in gas I would burn to go somewhere to buy a box or 2, Plus I get what I'm looking for instead of having to buy what they have.

I appreciate the feedback on the Estate ammo, this Goose hunting thing is not a major undertaking for me and my buddy, more like a cheap thrill, we're not looking to pour hundreds and hundreds of dollars into and I'm not going to pull my hair out trying to find legal steel shot just to play legal law games with DNR.