The Missouri Department of Conservation has recently proposed new regulations. These are regarding the use of toxic shot while dove hunting. Lead is a known poison that harms the health of both people and wildlife if ingested.
This amendment places a restriction on the use of lead shot on conservation areas that receive heavy hunting pressure [1]
Research shows that doves, waterfowl, and many other birds can suffer from lead poisoning. Especially after eating a lead pellet from used shotgun shells. Lead poisoning can be deadly to birds as well as to other wildlife. This includes bald eagles that are known to feed on waterfowl which have lead shot in their body.
Current Impact
Currently there are already twenty-one conservation areas that require nontoxic shot for hunting.
This includes the following:
- B. K. Leach
- Bob Brown
- Black Island
- Columbia Bottom
- Cooley Lake
- Coon Island
- Duck Creek
- Eagle Bluffs
- Fountain Grove
- Four Rivers
- Grand Pass
- Little Bean Marsh
- Little River
- Marais Temps Clair
- Montrose
- Nodaway Valley
- Otter Slough
- Schell-Osage
- Settle’s Ford
- Ted Shanks
- Ten Mile Pond
Proposed Conservation Areas
The Missouri Department of Conservation wants to add sixteen more to that list.
The following are being considered:
- Aspinwall Bend
- Church Farm
- Corning
- Deroin Bend
- Diana Bend
- Franklin Island
- Frost Island, Lower Hamburg Bend
- Nishnabotna
- Perry (Ralph and Martha)
- Platte Falls
- Plowboy Bend
- Thurnau (H. F.)
- Rose Pond
- Rush Bottom
- Wolf Creek
The MDC is encouraging comments from interested parties. Currently, you can comment on the proposed regulation at https://mdc.mo.gov/about-regulations/wildlife-code-missouri/proposed-regulation-changes
Notes:
- ^Missouri Department of Conservation. (2018). Proposed Regulation Changes. [online] Available at: https://mdc.mo.gov/about-regulations/wildlife-code-missouri/proposed-regulation-changes [Accessed 18 Sep. 2018]. (go back ↩)
