Skip to main content

California's Lead-Free Ammo Regulations

Bullet Blues in the Golden State

California's Lead-Free Ammo Regulations

Back in 2008, when lead ammunition was banned in eight southern California counties, big-game hunters winced but complied, figuring shooting non-toxic bullets was their contribution to bringing back endangered condors. The ban was later enlarged to include coyotes, feral hogs, and small-game species in the defined condor recovery area.

The wincing turned into full-body shudders in 2013, when California’s legislature passed a bill extending the lead ban to the entire state, purportedly to assist condor recovery. The ban, signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015, took effect this past July, and this time it’s not just certain rifle hunters who must comply. All hunters, whether pursuing desert bighorn sheep in the Mojave, pigs on the Central Coast, or cinnamon teal in the Klamath Basin, must use only certified non-toxic ammunition.

The statewide non-toxic law has a double whammy. Also taking effect on July 1: draconian ammunition restrictions that require buyers to pass background checks before buying even a single box of rimfire ammo.

While the ammunition-buying restriction will affect every shooter, whether targeting long-range steel, clay pigeons, or ground squirrels, the lead ban has caused a curious sort of conflict among hunters.

“Back in 1991, when the feds mandated non-toxic shot for waterfowl hunting, I was one of the first to recognize that hunters have a responsibility to the resource,” said Bay Area waterfowler Joel Adkins. “The science seemed clear. By shooting lead, we were poisoning the ducks and geese we were honor-bound to conserve. This time? I just don’t know that banning lead across the state is going to save the condors. It seems like hunters and shooters are taking a disproportionate share of the burden.”

Avian researchers say the science is just as clear that lead ammunition is poisoning endangered condors. An aggressive captive-breeding program has brought back the condor population from just 22 birds in 1982 to nearly 500 birds spread from Baja California, across the Grand Canyon, and into Utah. Researchers say that elevated lead levels affects about 20 percent of the population. Adult condors with lead poisoning must be trapped and detoxified before being rereleased into the wild. The main culprit, say researchers: lead with the isotope that matches that used in bullets.

By removing lead from the environment, including gut piles of hunter-harvested animals, condors will have one fewer barrier to recovery, says the Center for Biological Diversity, which pushed for the statewide ban.


But the state’s game wardens aren’t as sure.

“California game wardens are on the front line enforcing the ban on lead ammunition for most hunting in con-dor range,” the California Fish & Game Wardens Association testified. “But there is insufficient data to justify such a drastic action across the entire state.”




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

The Truth About Thermal Optics

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

Weatherby's All-New Model 307 Range XP

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

Introducing the Savage 110 Trail Hunter

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

Federal Terminal Ascent 7mm PRC

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

CZ Shadow 2: Competition Ready Right Out of the Box!

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

The Ultimate Truck and Trail Gun

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Hunting

The Golden Triangle

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

Cleaning Up for Ultimate Season Success

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

Packing Protein for Western Hunting Trails

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

Browning X-Bolt Speed: Lightweight & Accurate for Backcountry Hunting

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Hunting

A Boy's First Whitetail Hunt

Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss t...
Gear

Steiner Optics Predator Series

Petersen's Hunting Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save.

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Petersen's Hunting App

Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Petersen's Hunting stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now