Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife





*mefishwildlife.com*






Keep conservation in your sights... Consider making the switch to non-lead ammunition
X-ray showing presence of lead bullet fragments in deer backstrap. Photo by huntingiwthnonlead.org

Photo: X-ray showing presence of lead bullet fragments in deer backstrap. Photo by huntingwithnonlead.org

Lead has long prevailed as the primary material for big game hunting ammunition. But in recent years, studies have illuminated the potential for serious wildlife health and environmental risks of using lead-based ammunition for hunting, and manufacturers responded with cost-effective and powerful non-lead options.

Today, non-lead options are:

two copper bullets shown before and after it was shot, the after shot shows how the bullet expanded
* *Extremely Effective: *When copper bullets first hit the market, hunters were concerned they would be lighter and less dense, proving less effective than lead bullets of the same shape and size. After years of development, today’s copper bullets are available in a large array of calibers, weights, and designs that meet or exceed the performance of their lead counterparts. 
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Photo: A before and "after the shot" photo of a copper bullet; the bullet to the right shows the bullet expanded and held together as a single unit, retained its weight for deeper penetration, and provided maximum energy transfer. Photo by huntingwithnonlead.org

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* *At a Comparable Cost: *Non-lead bullets are similarly priced to other modern premium ammunition choices.


* *Better for the Environment and Wildlife, Especially Avian Scavengers: *When eagles consume lead, it only takes a small fragment, about the size of a grain of rice, to become toxic and often lethal. Eagles have the potential to consume lead fragments while scavenging gut piles or parts of animal carcasses left behind of the landscape.


Support wildlife by making the switch to non-lead ammunition for your big game hunts this fall. If you aren't ready to make the switch, read on for other ways to minimize impact to avian scavengers such as eagles. 

*Learn More About Making the Switch* [ [link removed] ]






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Other Ways to Minimize Impact

If you are not ready to make the switch to non-lead ammunition alternatives just yet, there are still ways you can take action:

spruce tree icon
Hide Remains from Above

Hide gut piles and carcasses under the thick cover of conifers. This method requires minimal effort and focuses on reducing the risk to the most susceptible species, avian scavengers, who fly above in search of their next meal.

"Reminder: You do need landowner permission to cut branches of a tree."



shovel icon
Dig a Hole

Consider going one step further to eliminate visual location and direct access by burying your gut pile and carcass in a shallow hole beneath conifers. Just be sure you have permission from the landowner if you aren't on your own property.



trash bag icon
Leave No Trace

The last, and most effective option is to leave no trace. Consider carrying the remains of your gut pile and carcass out with you, leaving nothing behind for any scavengers to find. If you choose this option, you can use a trash bag and dispose of the carcass in a certified landfill.



A little effort goes a long way in protecting wildlife. We encourage all hunters to stay informed about the continuous improvements to and benefits of non-lead ammunition. Take the time to talk with others in the hunting community about their positive experiences using non-lead ammo. You may be closer to making the switch than you think.

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More information

Search Maine's hunting laws [ [link removed] ]
Purchase a hunting license or permit online [ [link removed] ]
Antlerless deer permit information [ [link removed] ]
Plan your hunt
[ [link removed] ]Search Maine's hunting laws [ [link removed] ]
Keep CWD out of Maine [ [link removed] ]
Hunting with nonlead ammunition [ [link removed] ]
Exploring the outdoors on private land [ [link removed] ]








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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ·41 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333-0041 · (207) 287-8000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]