StevieP
NES Member
I'm new to shotgunning, and was thinking about this the other day...
As I understand it, one or two loons somewhere in Maine were found to have lead poisoning from ingesting a couple lead fishing weights a long time ago. So then every fisherman, everywhere had to change to non-lead weights in NH, MA, and many other states
I assume this same group of "environmentalists" fear that some bird or animal will ingest sufficient quantities of #9 birdshot, with the result that every hunter everywhere has had to change to steel (or tungsten nickel, or whatever) shotgun shot.
But what about the plastic wads that are expelled with every shotgun trigger pull? I almost fear asking this question because I'm afraid some bleeding heart liberal moonbat will glom onto this cause and the result will be (costly) biodegradable shell wads. But I'm seriously asking anyway - isn't anyone concerned with the environmental impact of the millions of plastic wads that end up in every marsh, field, etc. where people go hunting? Won't some wingnut figure out that fish, animals, or birds will ingest these things, and get sick and/or die? What about the fact that it's just a mess of little bits of plastic trash, regardless of the impact to wildlife? I imagine most hunters are pretty good about picking up the shell casings, but I've never seen anyone go pick up the wads.
Should I just keep my damn mouth shut? Or have other people given this any thought too?
As I understand it, one or two loons somewhere in Maine were found to have lead poisoning from ingesting a couple lead fishing weights a long time ago. So then every fisherman, everywhere had to change to non-lead weights in NH, MA, and many other states
I assume this same group of "environmentalists" fear that some bird or animal will ingest sufficient quantities of #9 birdshot, with the result that every hunter everywhere has had to change to steel (or tungsten nickel, or whatever) shotgun shot.
But what about the plastic wads that are expelled with every shotgun trigger pull? I almost fear asking this question because I'm afraid some bleeding heart liberal moonbat will glom onto this cause and the result will be (costly) biodegradable shell wads. But I'm seriously asking anyway - isn't anyone concerned with the environmental impact of the millions of plastic wads that end up in every marsh, field, etc. where people go hunting? Won't some wingnut figure out that fish, animals, or birds will ingest these things, and get sick and/or die? What about the fact that it's just a mess of little bits of plastic trash, regardless of the impact to wildlife? I imagine most hunters are pretty good about picking up the shell casings, but I've never seen anyone go pick up the wads.
Should I just keep my damn mouth shut? Or have other people given this any thought too?