The DNR finds fragmentation varies widely depending on your choice ...

Tag : lead,copper
The DNR finds fragmentation varies widely depending on your choiceof ammunition Worried about lead in your venison? Check yourbullets

Chris NiskanenPioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
Released : Wednesday, October 08, 2008 4:00 AM
Oct. 8--Deer hunters can substantially reduce the number of leadfragments in venison if they use copper or copper-encased riflebullets or slugs from shotguns or muzzleloaders, according to aMinnesota Department of Natural Resources study released Tuesday.
One particular rifle bullet, called a ballistic tip lead bullet,had 14 times as many lead fragments in carcass samples thancopper-encased or all-copper bullets, the study showed.
"The bottom line is selecting an appropriate bullet is the best wayto manage lead fragmentation," said Lou Cornicelli, a DNR big-gamecoordinator who helped conduct the study.
The study found shotgun and muzzleloader slugs left far fewerfragments than high-powered rifle bullets. Also, tests showed leadfragments traveled farther in animals than previously thought. Insome cases, fragments were found more than a foot from the wound.
The study found that cutting 2 inches around a wound wouldeliminate only 30 percent of the fragments.
DNR officials undertook the study in July to give deer huntersguidance on what type of bullets leave the fewest fragments invenison.
Lead in venison has become a prominent issue in hunting circlesafter several studies have found tiny lead particles in home- andcommercial-processed venison. However, there has been no provenlink between human lead illnesses and venison consumption.
About 500,000 Minnesota hunters pursue deer with rifles, shotgunsand muzzleloaders. A two-day antlerless-only
season opens Saturday. The regular deer season opens Nov. 8.
Mike Wock, a Stillwater deer hunter who uses a rifle, said the DNRstudy won't cause him to switch to copper bullets, which are moreexpensive than lead.
He said he is unconvinced there is a lead-related health problembecause there is no evidence people get sick from eating venison.
"Right now, I have no concerns," he said. "The people I talk to aresaying the same thing."
To test bullet fragmentation, DNR researchers shot rifle bulletsand shotgun and muzzleloader slugs into 72 sheep carcasses duringthe study. The carcasses were then X-rayed at the University ofMinnesota, and the bullet fragments were counted and compared indifferent samples.
DNR officials said the biggest surprise was finding some fragmentstraveled far from the entry wound. Researchers found lead fragmentsas far as 14 and 18 inches from the wound.
"These fragments travel a long ways," Cornicelli said. He said thediscovery makes it difficult for the DNR to advise hunters on howfar to trim meat away from the wound.
The DNR now advises hunters to discard bullet-damaged meat and tocut and discard meat several inches from the bullet wound.
The study showed bullets with a "ballistic tip," which are designedto break apart and kill quickly, left the most lead fragments inthe sheep carcasses. Other lead bullets known as "controlledexpansion" bullets with a copper jacket broke apart less but stillleft fragments.
The smallest number of fragments came from bullets with a copperjacket that encased a lead core or those made entirely of copper.
Shotgun and muzzleloader slugs left more fragments than theall-copper bullets, but far fewer than other lead rifle bullets.About 60 percent of the state's deer hunters hunt in the state'sagriculture region, where they are required to use shotguns. Thatregion makes up roughly two-thirds of the state.
Cornicelli said shotgun and muzzleloader slugs leave fewerfragments because they travel more slowly than high-powered riflebullets.
While no studies have shown a link between human illnesses andvenison consumption, the Minnesota Department of Health warnedTuesday that children younger than 6 and pregnant women should notconsume venison from animals shot with lead bullets.
John Linc Stine of the Minnesota Department of Health'sEnvironmental Health Division said lead is a known toxin that posesa higher risk to the nervous systems of young children than toadults.
In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched aNorth Dakota study to examine lead levels in people who eatvenison. The results are not available yet, but Minnesota DNR andhealth officials said Tuesday they are eager to know the results.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has resumed a venisondonation program for Minnesota food shelves, but only with wholevenison cuts because studies show more lead fragments in groundvenison. Processors in the program also have to attend new trainingseminars.
Agriculture officials say, however, only 22 processors areparticipating in the program so far this year, compared to 70 lastyear. The program could grow to 36 processors this year aftertraining programs are completed.
Data wasn't available on the number of deer, if any, that have beendonated so far this year, agriculture officials said.
To see more of the Pioneer Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper,go to http://www.twincities.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Pioneer Press,St. Paul, Minn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune InformationServices. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com,call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, orwrite to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Provider:
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services / McClatchy-Tribune BusinessNews / Pioneer Press (St. Paul, MN)
Keywords:
Health & Family , Americas , North America , Health & Wellness , Health , Education & Welfare , USA , Government , Health & Safety , Minnesota