MDNR bullet study arms hunters with information (October 7, 2008)
With the “early antlerless” deer season opening Saturday, results of a preliminary study about how certain bullets break up and disperse on impact provide more information for hunters heading out to the field. The results add emphasis to previous venison safety messages from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommending pregnant women and children under six do not eat any venison harvested using ammunition that results in deposition of lead particles in meat.
There is currently no health-based standard or guideline for consumption of lead fragments by older children or adults, according to the MDH.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted the research this spring to offer more detail to hunters in response to earlier concerns about lead particles in hunter-harvested venison donated to local food shelves.
The research indicates lead particles are commonly found farther from the wound channel than many hunters might assume and that the number of lead fragments varies widely by bullet type. Hunters with concerns about these findings can use this information to minimize exposure to lead fragments through ammunition selection.
In addition to showing increased fragmentation by some lead bullets, the DNR study indicates that most lead particles in venison will be too small to see, feel or sense when chewing.
Results of the study showed that shotgun slugs and muzzleloader bullets generally fragmented much less than high-powered rifle bullets, said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator and study participant. Much of southern and western Minnesota is in the shotgun zone.
“This research arms hunters with more information that they can use to make informed decisions,” said Dave Schad, director of the DNR Fish and Wildlife Division. “We’ve long known venison is a great source of lean, healthy protein. Our research will help hunters ensure that’s exactly what they are serving themselves and others.” “We wanted to be as responsive as possible to hunters in providing this information before deer season,” added DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten. “However, everyone must use their best judgement about the ammunition they use and how they dress and process their own venison.”
The DNR’s announcement is timely as the state’s first firearms deer season opens Saturday. Called the “early antlerless firearms season,” it is open only in certain locations and attracts about 5 percent of total deer hunters. Schad said by releasing the information before the early antlerless and Nov. 8 general deer season hunters will “be able to act on this new information if it is it appropriate for their situation.”
STUDY DESIGN
The controlled study, the first of its type, involved the shooting of different types of .308 caliber rifle bullets, a 12-gauge shotgun slug and two types of .50 caliber muzzleloader bullets into the carcasses of previously euthanized sheep.
Sheep were used surrogates for white-tailed deer because they have similar anatomy and weigh about the same as mid-sized deer. Researchers then shot sheep from a standard distance. Sheep were x-rayed at the University of Minnesota Small Animal Hospital to determine the number of fragments and the degree of fragmentation. The University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory completed the chemical analysis of lead levels.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
Exposure to lead can be harmful for both children and adults, and it may not always produce visible symptoms, according to the MDH.
Pregnant women and younger children are especially sensitive because they absorb most of the lead they take in, and the brains of infants and young children are still developing. Although lead is also toxic for adults, they are less sensitive to the effects of lead and absorb less of the lead they take in.
Older children and other adults can continue to enjoy hunting and eating venison. However, they should take steps to minimize their potential exposure to lead, and use their judgment about consuming game that was taken using lead-based ammunition.
VENISON DONATION PROGRAM
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) recently announced a series of changes in the state’s venison donation program to help prevent the donation of meat contaminated with lead fragments.
One of the new safeguards is a requirement that processors participating in the program attend a training seminar focused on best practices to prevent contamination. According to MDA Dairy and Food Inspection Director Heidi Kassenborg, the response from processors has been positive.
“Everyone involved in the program has a responsibility to help address this issue, and processors are interested in doing their part to ensure consumer safety,” Kassenborg said. “To verify the effectiveness of the changes we’ve made, MDA will be testing random samples of donated product by X-ray to detect any lead fragments.”
Hunters are encouraged to continue to donate to this important program, she added.
For further study details and more information on lead in venison, go to
http://mndnr.gov/lead.
