Wyoming Non-lead Ammunition Program

For the 2011 elk and bison season the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge encouraged hunters currently using lead ammunition to make a voluntary switch to non-lead ammunition. The voluntary use of non-lead ammunition allows hunters a unique opportunity to maintain support for hunting programs by demonstrating a commitment to safe, quality hunting practices that will benefit the long-term conservation of wildlife. Read more about our lead and wildlife study.

Our free non lead ammunition distribution program has ended for 2011. Thanks to Cabela's for filling orders and support for the program from the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. Hunters who drew elk tags in zones 75, 77 or 79 were eligible for one free box of premium non-lead rifle ammunition for their hunt this fall. Depending on funds we will continue the program for the 2012 season to encourage and educate hunters on non-lead ammunition. Thanks to everyone who participated! 

Non-lead ammunition can be purchased at the following local and internet distributers:

• Jack Dennis Outdoors - Town Square at 50 East Broadway (307) 733-3270
• Pawn Shop & Sporting Goods - 560 West Broadway by the Exxon (307) 733-5152
• Teton Arms - 852 West Broadway behind Chinatown (307) 733-3395
• Sportsman's Warehouse - 2909 S. 25th E. Idaho Falls, ID 83406 (208) 542-1900
• Cabela's
• Barnes Bullets is offering a $10 rebate on their high performing copper bullets through the end of the 2011.

This program is a partnership with Craighead Beringia South, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge and Cabela's. It is funded by a grant from the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. 

What hunters are saying about non-lead ammunition:

"Thanks for keeping in the forefront of the lead-to-copper conversion for big game hunters.  I used Barnes TSX copper this year on my bison hunt - two shots did the job - recovered both bullets, with all four flanges laid back from the tip of each bullet, and otherwise intact - no far-flung fragments, no toxic lead in the meat, no toxic lead in the environment.  With copper's better killing prowess and cleaner legacy, there's no going back to lead for me." - Len Carlman, Wilson, Wyoming

"Since receiving that box of ammo (non-lead), I have taken two elk on the Refuge, and an additional two elk and one antelope on public lands elsewhere.  The stuff works, to say the least."  - Jackson, Wyoming Hunter

"Regardless of your opinion about the "lead poisoning issue," non-toxic bullets are here to stay - and for hunters who desire top performance, that's a good thing." - Ron Spomer, North American Hunter Magazine

"This is my third year participating in the voluntary non-lead ammunition program and I have not noticed a difference between the non-lead ammunition and the lead ammunition. I plan to continue to keep using non-lead ammo." - Jackson, Wyoming Hunter

General Information

Lead Rifle Ammunition & Birds - the science behind it

Living Bird Magazine article that chronicles the lead bullet issue with birds 

ABC News Video on Condor Mortality from Lead Fragments

Assignment Earth News Video

Park Service and USFWSAsk Hunters to go Lead-Free

North American Hunter Article - Non-Toxic Big Game Bullets

State Health Warnings

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Information on Lead Ammunition

North Dakota Department of Health Information on Lead in VenisonMinnesota DNR Lead Information for Hunters

Ammunition Performance

Field & Stream review of a non-lead ammo option

Field Trials of Copper vs. Lead Bullets

Arizona Hunter Survey of Non-Lead Ammo Performance

Beringia South Research Reports on Lead

Lead Exposure in Large Carnivores in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. 2011. T.A. Rogers, B. Bedrosian, J. Graham, K.R. Foresman. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 9999:1-8; 2011; DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.277 PDF

Craighead, D. and B. Bedrosian. 2008. Blood lead levels of Common Ravens with access to big-game offal. Journal of Wildlife Management. 72:240-245. PDF

Craighead, D. and B. Bedrosian. 2009. A relationship between blood lead levels of Common Ravens and the hunting season in the Southern Yellowstone Ecosystem. In R.T. Watson, M. Fuller, M. Pokras, and. W.G. Hunt. (Eds). Ingestion of Lead From Spent Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans. The Peregrine Fund. Boise, ID, USA. PDF

Bedrosian, B., C. Parish, and D. Craighead. 2009. Difference in blood lead levels detections techniques: Analysis among and between three techniques and four avian species. In R.T. Watson, M. Fuller, M. Pokras, and. W.G. Hunt. (Eds). Ingestion of Lead From Spent Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans. The Peregrine Fund. Boise, ID, USA. PDF

Other Reports

Conference Proceedings Ingestion of Lead Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans