California has officially begun implementation of their soon-to-be statewide ban on all lead ammunition for hunting purposes.
Bill 711 was signed into law in Oct. 2013, and starting July 1 the non-lead ammunition push now affects hunting on all California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) lands and for all Nelson bighorn sheep hunts anywhere within the state.
In a state with ever-tightening gun laws, it comes as no surprise that the new fiscal year brings with it more restrictions. The CDFW says bill 711 is meant to protect the environment, but the new bill will no doubt serve as a major headache for hunters, especially in coming years.
Currently, bill 711 affects a limited area and limited number animals, but starting July 1, 2016, the law will require non-lead ammunition for shotguns when hunting small game mammals, fur-bearing mammals, any nongame bird not hunted at a licensed game bird club, and upland game birds, with the exception of dove, quail, and snipe.
And by July1, 2019, California plans to stretch the law statewide and across all animals, requiring the use non-lead ammunition when taking wildlife of any kind at any location in the state.
Thankfully, the ban on lead ammunition only extends to hunting, at least for now, and it will be legal in the foreseeable future to use lead-based ammunition for target practice, self-defense or any other non-hunting endeavor.
For more info on the ban and what it effects, check out this article from the NRA-ILA.
An older news video discussing the ban:
(This article was a submission from freelance writer Brent Rogers)
It’s about time. No reason for responsible hunters to be spreading lethal lead about the landscape.
David, please take the time to read the article about ignoring scientific studies inn order to push an anti hunting agenda and its cloak of animal welfare.