What is the scope of TPWD’s research on lead poisoning in doves?
TPWD is engaged in three areas of research that will take about five years to complete: First, we are assessing hunter attitudes and knowledge about lead poisoning and non-lead shot. Drawing insight from several focus group sessions conducted around the state, we developed a survey that is being mailed to 10,000 randomly selected dove hunters. The results will help guide our decisions regarding lead and non-lead shot for dove hunting. Another research effort involves testing the effectiveness of lead and non-lead shot configurations that are popular for dove hunting. We will gain information on wounding rates, average number of pellets striking vital areas of dove, as well as choke and distance information. Finally, we will estimate the proportion of wild doves with ingested pellets, elevated lead levels in doves before and after the hunting season opens as well as density of spent pellets on the soil surface in Texas. Some researchers believe that few dove are ever found that die of l
