Nothing new here...
No, there's nothing new here, but the lead issue (IMO) is something that should at least be followed year to year, season to season, by hunters and fishermen in their home state, or wherever they might want to hunt or fish while abroad. It's not going to go away, ever, and that's again, IMO.
Last year, here in my home state of Wyoming, there was a one word change in the 2016 big game regulations that had me concerned enough to where I contacted the G&F officials in my district, and that word was LEAD. They assured me that if I wanted to use my muzzle-loader with the patched round lead ball, or my 45/70 B.P.C.R. using cast bullets, I was quite o.k. to use them. No problem. They also said the wordage should be straightened out in this year's (2017) regs.
Up to, and including the 2015 big game hunting regulations, and regarding legal muzzle-loading firearms and caliber restrictions, the regs. stated that, in pursuing big game or trophy animals: "Any center-fire firearm used to hunt big or trophy game animals shall FIRE A LEAD (caps mine) or expanding point bullet. This statement pretty much covered the use of lead projectiles in any firearm following minimum calibers and c.o.a.l requirements. Quite straightforward enough.
In the 2016 Wyoming big game regulations the wordage changed to read: "Any center-fire firearm or muzzle-loading firearm used to hunt big or trophy game animals shall fire an expanding point bullet."
With all the controversy over the lead issues these days, to me, this is a rather big, one word change in Wyoming hunting laws regarding legal, and if you will, traditional projectiles. This is a state-wide, current Wyoming regulations deal, and would cover not only state and fed. lands, but private lands as well.
Last year, I emailed the Cheyenne office and inquired about this, and it was two weeks later that I got a response. The email simply told me to contact my local game warden to discuss the matter. I called our warden (a good guy, whose good at his job) and he told me I needed to contact Cheyenne. When I told him the deal, there was a bit of silence on his end of the phone. He then said, "Really?" He was as surprised at that response as I was. He also assured me it was o.k. to hunt with my M.L. or B.P.C.R. using my traditional ammo, as far as he was concerned.
Hopefully this is just an oversight with the regs. book, and will be corrected so there's no legal problems with "traditional ammo." I hope to attend a local meeting in March to discuss the matter further with the G&F official in charge of the meeting.
Also, the DEFINTION of a muzzle-loading firearm in both the 2015 and 2016 regulation book states that it's; "...a muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading handgun of a at least .40 caliber and using A LEAD (caps mine) or expanding point bullet using a charge of at least fifty (50) grains of black powder or its equivalent." But the REGULATION in the 2016 booklet omits the word LEAD in the official rule.
Again, up until and including the regs of 2015, there were no questions regarding the word LEAD for ammo use, at least by me. If there's any Wyoming hunters or fishermen who can add to this, or correct me in any way, I'd sure appreciate the comments.
