Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 05/00) - Restrictions imposed last year on migratory game bird hunting have been met by an overall good response.

According to Neil Scott, an enforcement officer with Environment Canada, regulations outlawing the use of lead shot for the hunting of most migratory birds have been generally accepted by hunters in the Northwest Territories.

"Compliance was unexpectedly high," said Scott.

"I believe it was a combination of the two-year phasing period and the amount of exposure from the media we got. So, most communities in the North know what's required."

On Sept. 1, 1999, the use of toxic shot (lead) for hunting all migratory birds, except woodcocks, band-tailed pigeons and mourning doves was made illegal.

The change was made to reduce the impact lead shot was having on wildlife.

Environment Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service estimate that some 250,000 waterfowl die from lead poisoning every year.

Additionally, many eagles or scavenging birds also suffer lead poisoning by consuming lead shot embedded in the tissues of the game animals they consume.

Secondary lead poisoning of bald and golden eagles accounts for an estimated 14-19 per cent of the recorded post-fledgling mortality in individuals examined for lead exposure.

While most Northern Stores that carry hunting supplies have reduced the amount of lead shot available on the shelves in favour of steel shot -- and a majority of hunters have made the switch -- Scott contends that there are still pockets of resistance to the new regulations.

"There is still a fair amount of resistance from the hunting fraternity," Scott said.

"There is the idea that steel shot will damage their firearms. We have to overcome this myth.

"Steel shot has been a requirement in the U.S. for 10 years now. It has been in Canada for four years as well (wetland and park areas), and we don't have any instances of firearm damage or injury because of steel shot."

Darell Christie, with the Northern Store in Tuktoyaktuk, echoed some of the hunters' sentiments towards steel shot.

"The hunters in town don't care for it (steel shot) because it doesn't fly as well," he says, noting that the store has carried very little lead shot on its shelves since the new regulations came into effect.

On the other hand, David Edwards with the Renewable Resources Council in Aklavik, said that once the hunters got used to using steel shot, their opinion of it has markedly changed.

"It was a really big concern when they started talking about the changes to the buckshot," said Edwards.

"But what I've been hearing here though, is that it's been good. We're so used to lead but the steel carries (projects) more.

"I think it's safer when you're shooting the geese, because the lead would get in between the meat. With the steel shot, it carries more and stays in a bunch."