Lead Free Bullet Question

[Chk Chk Boom]

Hey guys,
I spent the last 10 minutes searching but couldn't find the answer to my question. My question is does the lead free ammunition requirement only apply to hunting or to target shooting as well?

Thanks!
Jeff

ETA: Lead free reqm't in the condor zone*

[bigthaiboy]

It only applies to hunting ammunition, if you are hunting in these zones (within the yellow borders): http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunti...rvationAct.pdf

You can spit as much lead as you want into the environment when you are target shooting.

[OffGrid]

[JJE]

Anything living = lead Not OK. (with the exception of game birds = lead ok as well, unless your hunting duck or geese)

Yes, lead is OK for targets (assuming that target shooting is allowed). The "lead ban" is about condors in or around Monterey County. You can use lead bullets for small game. The rationale is that it's only when you shoot big game that you're likely to leave behind a pile of tasty guts with a lead slug in it that condors will eat. When you shoot a rabbit or squirrel, you take the whole animal with you, so there's nothing for condors to eat. [Lead shot is banned for waterfowl for a different reason].

If you look at most CA DFG publications, it says the following:

"Effective July 1, 2008, it is illegal to use or possess lead
projectiles (bullets) while hunting big game and non game species
in the range of the endangered California condor."

[basalt]

Yes, lead is OK for targets (assuming that target shooting is allowed). The "lead ban" is about condors in or around Monterey County. You can use lead bullets for small game. The rationale is that it's only when you shoot big game that you're likely to leave behind a pile of tasty guts with a lead slug in it that condors will eat. When you shoot a rabbit or squirrel, you take the whole animal with you, so there's nothing for condors to eat. [Lead shot is banned for waterfowl for a different reason].

If you look at most CA DFG publications, it says the following:

"Effective July 1, 2008, it is illegal to use or possess lead
projectiles (bullets) while hunting big game and non game species
in the range of the endangered California condor."

Just to clarify, the ban also includes non-game animals, such as ground squirrels, coyotes, etc.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/docs/LeadInformation.pdf

So if you are hunting tree squirrels, you can use lead, if you're going to explode some ground squirrels and leave their parts for the birds, you must us certified lead free ammunition.

The two Game wardens in my area both gave me the OK to keep shooting squirrels with lead ammo. They said it’s not a game animal and I am on my own property performing “Agricultural Pest Depredation”.

The above link specifically states there are no exceptions for landowners. The same rules apply for anyone hunting anything. The only exception is air rifles are not consider firearms, and therefore lead pellets are not banned.