The move to nontoxic steel shot is being mandated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce the number of waterfowl that die each year after ingesting toxic lead pellets. ... Lead will be progressively phased out in areas with lower waterfowl concentrations until 1991, when a nationwide ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowling goes into effect....
Ingested lead shot kills waterfowl. Steel shot does NOT kill ducks by ingestion.
Steel shot’s opponents claim that it doesn’t kill ducks when fired at them, either. In fact, steel shot will kill waterfowl cleanly, when fired at “steel shot ranges.” It will not kill at longer ranges, where lead may still be deadly in the hands of an expert wingshot....
As an avid goose hunter myself, I can sympathize.... In the hands of a good shot, lead shot, especially in duplex loads, will kill Canadas consistently to 55 yards. Steel shot
