Ammunition Type and Shot Placement Determine Lead Fragmentation in Deer

Broadway, Matthew S.; McCallen, Emily B.; Caudell, Joe N.; Stewart, Chad M.

doi:10.1002/jwmg.21917

Cited by 11 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…When the rabbit was confirmed dead, we conducted a postmortem categorization of the location of bullet wound tracts following the methods of Hampton et al (2016). We used radiography to assess the terminal ballistic performance of bullets in animal tissues (Herring et al 2016, DeNicola et al 2019, Broadway et al 2020. We collected a random sample of 27-28 rabbits shot with each bullet type, tagged each rabbit with a unique identification number, and refrigerated them until they could be radiographed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Lead‐Free .22 LR Bullets for Shooting European Rabbits

Hampton

DeNicola²,

Forsyth

2020

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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In response to health threats posed by toxic lead to humans and scavenging wildlife, there is currently a focus on transitioning from lead-based to lead-free bullets for shooting (harvesting, culling, or recreational hunting) of wild animals. However, the efficacy of lead-free bullets for shooting small mammals has seldom been evaluated. We compared the animal welfare outcomes and costs of using lead-based and lead-free bullets in the world's most popular cartridge, the rimfire .22 LR, for shooting wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Australia, during August 2019. Ballistic testing revealed that lead-free bullets were less precise than one type of commonly used lead-based bullet when shot from one rifle. We shot at 53 and 115 rabbits with lead-based and lead-free bullets, respectively. A substantially lower percentage of rabbits that were hit were wounded (2%) with lead-based bullets compared with lead-free bullets (20%). Hence, fewer shots were needed to kill rabbits with lead-based (1.27) than lead-free (3.98) bullets. Radiographic examination of 28 rabbits shot with lead-based bullets and 27 rabbits shot with lead-free bullets revealed metallic fragments present in 82% and 41% of carcasses, respectively. In 52% of rabbits shot with lead-free bullets, there was no radiographic evidence of bullets or fragments, indicating pass-through shots. The greater cost per bullet and larger number of bullets required to kill a rabbit meant that using lead-free bullets cost 6 times more per rabbit killed than using lead-based bullets. The only commercially available lead-free .22 LR bullets in Australia at the time of our study produced substantially poorer animal welfare outcomes, and were more expensive per killed rabbit, than lead-based bullets. Lead-free bullets designed to reduce lead exposure to scavenging wildlife and humans and should be assessed in terms of animal welfare outcomes and costs prior to being considered for widespread use.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used radiography to assess the terminal ballistic performance of bullets in animal tissues (Herring et al 2016, DeNicola et al 2019, Broadway et al 2020). We collected a random sample of 27–28 rabbits shot with each bullet type, tagged each rabbit with a unique identification number, and refrigerated them until they could be radiographed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Lead‐Free .22 LR Bullets for Shooting European Rabbits

Hampton

DeNicola²,

Forsyth

2020

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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“…We then used radiography to assess the terminal ballistic performance of bullets in animal tissues. Radiography is an accepted method in wildlife studies for detecting lead particles [ 3 , 6 , 32 , 47 , 48 ]. The pigs were radiographed using a portable Cuattro ® Slate Plus portable digital radiography system (Cuattro, Golden, Colorado, USA) set at 80 kVp and 2.5 mAs and a wireless 14” x 17” (36 x 43 cm) digital plate [ 6 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…any radiograph with >300 fragments was scored as ‘>300’. The maximum distance (mm) between fragments was also counted for each radiograph as per [ 48 ]. Average fragment size for each film was assigned to one of three categories: small (< 1mm), medium (1–5 mm) and large (> 5mm), as per [ 48 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The maximum distance (mm) between fragments was also counted for each radiograph as per [ 48 ]. Average fragment size for each film was assigned to one of three categories: small (< 1mm), medium (1–5 mm) and large (> 5mm), as per [ 48 ]. We estimated average fragment size to the nearest millimeter and the straight‐line distance as the widest point between two fragments in the field of view.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A comparison of fragmenting lead-based and lead-free bullets for aerial shooting of wild pigs

et al. 2021

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In response to the health threats posed by toxic lead to humans, scavenging wildlife and the environment, there is currently a focus on transitioning from lead-based to lead-free bullets for shooting of wild animals. We compared efficiency metrics and terminal ballistic performance for lead-based and lead-free (non-lead) bullets for aerial shooting of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in eastern Australia. Ballistic testing revealed that lead-based and lead-free bullets achieved similar performance in precision and muzzle kinetic energy (E0) levels (3337.2 J and 3345.7 J, respectively). An aerial shooting trial was conducted with wild pigs shot with one type of lead-based and one type of lead-free bullets under identical conditions. Observations were made from 859 shooting events (n = 430 and 429 respectively), with a sub-set of pigs examined via gross post-mortem (n = 100 and 108 respectively), and a further sub-set examined via radiography (n = 94 and 101 respectively). The mean number of bullets fired per pig killed did not differ greatly between lead-based and lead-free bullets respectively (4.09 vs 3.91), nor did the mean number of bullet wound tracts in each animal via post-mortem inspection (3.29 vs 2.98). However, radiography revealed a higher average number of fragments per animal (median >300 vs median = 55) and a broader distribution of fragments with lead-based bullets. Our results suggest that lead-based and lead-free bullets are similarly effective for aerial shooting of wild pigs, but that the bullet types behave differently, with lead-based bullets displaying a higher degree of fragmentation. These results suggest that aerial shooting may be a particularly important contributor to scavenging wildlife being exposed to lead and that investigation of lead-free bullets for this use should continue.

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Lead exposure in consumers of culled invasive alien mammals in El Palmar National Park, Argentina

Tammone

Caselli

Condorí

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Consumption of meat from animals hunted with Pb ammunition can cause toxic accumulation with consequent health risks, even if relatively small amounts are consumed in each exposure. In El Palmar National Park, Argentina, invasive alien mammals, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and axis deer (Axis axis), are culled with Pb ammunition and their meat is consumed. In this study, we evaluated blood Pb concentrations in 58 consumers of culled game and examined Pb exposure risk according to their demographics, duty, and consumption habits. Likewise, the likelihood of exposure was evaluated by quantifying Pb concentrations in meat samples of seven culled axis deer. Twenty-seven participants (46%) had detectable blood Pb levels (limit of detection = 3.3 μg/dL), with an average 4.75 ± 1.35 μg/dL (geometric mean ± geometric S.D.); the average for all participants was 3.25 ± 1.51 μg/dL. Blood Pb concentrations were significantly higher in hunters, in participants who reported consuming game meat more than 5 times per week, and in participants who reported frequently consuming cured game meat (compared to cooked or pickled). Pb concentration varied significantly along the trajectory of the bullet in deer muscle, being highest at mid-point but with detectable Pb levels even in distant tissue samples (control), suggesting potential for dietary intake by consumers. These findings provide evidence of Pb exposure risk in consumers and emphasize the relevance of replacing Pb ammunition with non-toxic alternatives. This change would reduce dietary exposure in frequent consumers and allow the use of game meat as safe food for people whilst eliminating collateral risks to wild animals and the environment.

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Ammunition Type and Shot Placement Determine Lead Fragmentation in Deer

Cited by 11 publications

References 48 publications

Assessment of Lead‐Free .22 LR Bullets for Shooting European Rabbits

Assessment of Lead‐Free .22 LR Bullets for Shooting European Rabbits

A comparison of fragmenting lead-based and lead-free bullets for aerial shooting of wild pigs

Lead exposure in consumers of culled invasive alien mammals in El Palmar National Park, Argentina

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