Each autumn some 2,000,000 hunters take to the fields, forests and wetlands of the U.S. to hunt game birds. Around 3,000 tons of lead shot is fired. The bulk of which does not hit its target and falls to the ground or into water.
Some of the lead shot ends up in the gizzards of these game birds, due to ingestion. This can cause elevated lead levels in their bodies lowering disease immunity. Alternative nontoxic ammunitions are available and are required by law in some areas. Steel, copper, and tungsten shot perform well, and are much safer to birds should they ingest them.
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