Non Toxic Shot
Booklet | Fact Sheets | Further Reading
This webpage is part of a wider education program initiated by the Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee (HAC) to inform hunters of the conservation, practical and safety issues relevant to the use of non-toxic shot for duck hunting.
The education program includes an information booklet entitled “Give Non-toxic a Shot – The Facts About Non-toxic Shot” and a series of more detailed Fact Sheets. The booklet and Fact Sheets are available on this website, along with other useful reference material.
The education program was developed by an HAC subcommittee and was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. The use of this website is provided by DSE.
Lead is a toxic substance that can harm humans, wildlife and the environment. The most common lead poisoning in birds is considered to be the result of ingestion of spent lead shot used for waterfowl hunting. Therefore, the use of lead shot for duck hunting is prohibited throughout Victoria. This includes duck hunting on all wetlands, waterways and dry lands on public and private land.
The non-toxic shot types permitted for use in Victoria includes; steel (soft iron), bismuth, tungsten-matrix, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer and tin. All have been rigorously tested and are considered to be non-toxic to wildlife. No other shot types (eg. zinc) can be used to hunt duck in Victoria. Hunters should check with their ammunition supplier to see which alternatives best suit their needs. Hunters should also check with their firearm’s manufacturer or gunsmith to ensure that it is safe to use certain shot alternatives in their firearm.
Duck hunters may have toxic shot (eg. lead shot) on a State Game Reserve or any other area where they intend to hunt duck, provided it is secured in a vehicle. Hunters should also note that lead shot may be used for quail hunting on the 16 State Game Reserves where quail hunting is permitted.
For more information about non-toxic shot, please select from the topic links above.
Booklet
A booklet has been prepared for the Victorian and New South Wales government departments and the NSW Game Birds Management Committee by the Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee to help hunters with the transition to the use of non-toxic shot for waterfowl hunting.
This booklet was prepared as part of a comprehensive hunter education program that has been in place since 1999 to inform hunters of the conservation, practical and safety issues relevant to the use of non-toxic shot for duck hunting.
Almost 25,000 copies of the booklet were mailed to Victorian and New South Wales duck hunters in 1999. A pdf version of this booklet is provided below.
Non Toxic Shot - Booklet Part 1 (PDF - 1.5 Mb)
Non Toxic Shot - Booklet Part 2 (PDF - 1.5 Mb)
Fact Sheets
Non Toxic Shot - Why Has The Change Been Made (PDF - 42 Kb)
Non Toxic Shot - Reloading (PDF - 299 Kb)
Non Toxic Shot - Changing Chokes and Pellet Sizes (PDF - 44 Kb)
Non Toxic Shot - More information (PDF - 39 Kb)
Non Toxic Shot - Steel Shot Standards Pressures and Proofing (PDF - 292 Kb)
Non Toxic Shot - Possible Effects to Guns (PDF - 60 Kb)
Non Toxic Shot - The Regulations (PDF - 46 Kb)
Further Reading
A list of references relevant to the use of non-toxic shot can be seen below. Copies of these references can be obtained from your local library.
Non Toxic Shot Further reading (PDF - 107 Kb)
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