Hey is copper plated shot considered non-toxic? Hunting BO in a couple weeks and I usually only shoot copper-plated #5's. If it is not considered non-toxic what do you guys shoot?

If it says "copper plated lead shot" then no I wouldn't say it is non-toxic because it is still lead....

Anything that is made out of tungsten (I think that is what it was called), steel, or HEVI-SHOT is non-toxic..

But then again, if you shoot any animal and it dies.... Wouldn't that have been toxic to their health???? Am I right! :p

Also, MAKE SURE YOUR YOUR CHOKE TUBE CAN HANDLE NON-TOXIC SHOT.... I had to buy new chokes today for both mine and my buddy's gun so we could shoot steel shot....

what I thought. There is copper-plated steel etc... but I only have copper-plated lead up to this point and, yes, I have checked to make sure my choke will work. Good call though.

I also read today that my friend coming to hunt with me (from KY) will have to pay $206 to hunt. Didn't know it was that much.

Are you shooting turkeys with steel shot?

Wondering how well it patterns. I know there are better options available.

Bean,
For the spring hunt its $206, is that just spring or if he does'nt have any luck and comes back this Fall it will cost him More? Wow I am not sure what Ky's Prices are are seem kinda High? Better put him in a Great place.

daworz, he'd have to get a fall tag also. Not sure of the cost. Kentucky is a bargain (for NR's) at $200 or so for two spring birds and $60 more for fall tags or deer tags.

It seems that everything I have read so far is that steel shot is better then lead (pattern, range, lethality)....

I'm only using steel shot because Big Oaks (all National Wildlife Refuge's for that matter) says you have to... Otherwise I would still be using my lead shot.... Heck it cost me $21 bucks for 5 shots....

I wonder how many guys are gonna get caught using lead shot because they didn't know....

I am curious to know where your seein this about steel being more lethal than lead. I know from my waterfowl experience that if it were still legal I'd be shooting lead as opposed to steel. No way I'd ever shoot steel over lead at turkeys unless it were the only legal method. That's just my opinion.

I would use lead as well since it is cheaper....

But an answer to your question: Here is a couple of websites that talk about steel vs. lead shot...

http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.steelvslead.html

http://www.texashuntfish.com/app/wildlife-resources/20287/Lead-vs-Steel-Shot

I wish I could find that one website were I read that but I can't remember what that was....

I went to buy some "non-toxic" loads today and was really amazed in how much it cost. Now, having said that I am not an avid waterfowl hunter and for years never looked for anything but my copper=plated #5's which shoot great out of my gun. Never needed to look for anything else.

Today I saw hevi-shot for $22.00 (on sale) for five shells and $50.00 for 10. If I wanted the coyote shells it was $60.00 for a box of 10. That is too much for me so I looked at all the different steel shot and was clueless. I am one to pattern my gun when trying a new load. Jeez, that is a lot of cash. If I do go to steel or something else I will also have to get a new choke.

Need to figure this all out to be legal at BO. IF I hunt elsewhere after that, then I will just use what I always have.

Any idea's?

I switched to 3.5" #6 Hevi-shot a few years ago. Not cheap for sure.

I am sure EVERYONE will be well informed of "only approved non-toxic shot" at the Safety meetings and will have signed off on all the rules!!!!

Some more Lead vs shot info......

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...UHaNvQ5GnXT6dfPo2Q&bvm=bv.45175338,d.aWc

BTW....Turkey Hunting at BO ends at 2pm every Day!!!

KY is about the same price, that is what it cost me a few years back, but if i went back for a fall hunt or deer hunt it woulda only cost me $60 because i woulda had all the other licence required to hunt that last all year