Thread: no lead from 2021

The 200m rule may sound like an odd exemption, but it does allow, for instance, hunting waterfowl over paddocks with lead. The Government originally proposed that ALL lead shot be banned for all activities, including ALL upland gamebird hunting, ALL clay target shooting and ALL farm pest control. Fish & Game was successful in having this extreme requirement softened.
The 200m rule recognises that lead is not a problem away from waterways. Equally, the smaller number of shotguns of gauges "less than 12" are not a statistically important factor in waterfowl poisoning by lead shot. Black powder exemptions are even fewer in number. Black powder burns through shotgun wads so it's not really practical to force non* toxic shot upon these shooters when plastic wads are essential to protect bores from most types of non-toxic shot.
While the 200m rule could be criticised, no one has yet thought up a better rule to fit the circumstances. A complete ban on ALL lead shot is very easy to understand. This is the alternative that was proposed. The concessions have been hard fought for to allow for paddock shooting of ducks and parries especially. Please respect them or we may all find that the original proposal to ban all lead shot may be introduced.
For more information, please read our Toxic Shot Regulations FAQ.

the hypocrisy is unreal this is still on f&gs website
but this was harder to find

I use a 20 gauge shotgun. How long can I continue hunting ducks with it?


The simple answer is for as long as you like. *If you hunt waterfowl over open water, you will have to use non-toxic shot from 2021. The new rules will be phased in over four years to give game bird licence holders with sub-gauge shotguns like 20 gauges time to get accustomed to the change and make the transition to non-toxic shot. *For the first two seasons – 2018 and 2019 – hunters can use up their existing stocks of sub-gauge lead ammunition. *In 2020, if they are hunting waterfowl on Department of Conservation or Fish & Game controlled land, they will have to use non-toxic shot and nothing else. *From 2021, non-toxic shot will be required for waterfowl hunting over open water in all shotguns except the .410 on all lands, public and private.