Posted: 7/14/2015 4:11:06 PM EDT
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The mammal regs are out:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=102351&inline The change this hunting year is that lead cannot be used on Calif. Fish and Wildlife Lands, or for Nelson Bighorn sheep. A good online zoomable map of these affected lands is here: https://map.dfg.ca.gov/lands/ There are some convoluted changes happening in the mammal regs which hunters need to look at. The upland bird regs are not out yet, even tho the mammal regs make some mention of birds! It looks like quail, dove and snipe will be temporarily exempted from lead free bird shot, in 2016. All other upland birds will require lead free. Small game will require lead free ammo, too. The troubling thing to me is the language for 2019, where it says that it will be illegal to hunt with "non-certified" lead free ammo. Unless the game warden has your ammo on a list, it's a no-go for 2019. The noose around California's hunters tightens. EDIT: Upland Bird Season and Limit summary is out: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Upland-Game-Birds#225035-regulations |
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When we hit 2019, only a few "officially approved" types of projectiles will be OK to posses in the hunting fields, while engaged in hunting. In the meantime, stuff has to be lead free. Here is the official state web page listing approved shot:
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/nontoxic.htm Note field tests for detection of approved shot types involve some electronic gizmo called the Hot Shot, ordinary magnets and hi powered rare earth magnets. The Game Warden will no doubt be asking people what they have, and have some field tests available which may help him to determine legality. Rifle ammo we should probably carry the ammo box label to prove compliance. I wonder how much static reloaders will be in for? "Nontoxic shot is defined as any shot type that does not cause sickness and death when ingested by migratory birds." Sounds like we should try shooting 1 1/8 oz of gravel! Any Game Wardens reading this are encouraged to chime in and give us the skinny. California hunters may balk a little, but we want to get this down right. 
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Quoted:
How are they going to enforce this? If people don't use soft tip, have the box or use reloads how are they going to know? Are they going to start pulling bullets? Just a few questions I have. The lead free copper and gilding metal monoliths are all hollow points, to my knowledge. Shooters in other states have complained online about game wardens demolishing shotshells, to check the shot content. With the .31 caliber Barnes TSX bullets I tend to shoot, I can't imagine any GW having any trouble distinguishing them from lead bullets. They are quite distinctive. Weird copper color hollow point and a weird cannelure groove showing past the brass casing. Frangible lead free hollow point bullets are a trifle harder for me to tell apart from garden variety lead core hollow points, in a casual visual inspection. |