Hunting of roe deer and wild boar in Germany: Is non-lead ammunition suitable for hunting?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Non-lead hunting ammunition is an alternative to bullets that contain lead. The use of lead ammunition can result in severe contamination of game meat, thus posing a health risk to consumers. With any kind of ammunition for hunting, the terminal effectiveness of bullets is an animal welfare issue. Doubts about the effectiveness of non-lead bullets for a humane kill of game animals in hunting have been discussed. The length of the escape distance after the shot has been used previously as an indicator for bullet performance.

Objective

The object of this study was to determine how the bullet material (lead or non-lead) influences the observed escape distances.

Methods

1,234 records of the shooting of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 825 records of the shoot

SUBMITTER: Martin A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5605046 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature