Comparison of the lethality of lead and copper bullets in deer control operations to reduce incidental lead poisoning; field trials in England and Scotland

SUMMARY Legislative controls on the use of lead gunshot ove r wetland areas have been introduced in many countries, including the UK, in order to reduce lea d poisoning in waterfowl following ingestion of spent shot. Effective alternatives to lead shot are widely available. However, there is evidence that the problem also affects wildlife in terrestrial ecosys tems and that lead bullets are a source of contamination for scavenging birds and mammals. With this in mind, copper bullets were trialled at three varied UK sites during deer control operation s undertaken to achieve nature conservation objectives. Their accuracy and killing power were r ecorded and compared to that of traditional lead bullets. No significant differences were found in a ccuracy or killing power. These results, coupled wi th experience elsewhere, suggest that copper bullets a re a viable alternative to lead bullets. If this is confirmed in all situations, we consider further re strictions on the use of lead ammunition, designed to encourage a switch to non-toxic ammunition across t errestrial habitats, to be a proportionate response to the problems associated with lead ingestion.