Hunting NZ > Non Toxic Shot Regulations

Rules For Non-Toxic Gamebird Hunting Game Season of 2006 onwards

For the 2006 Game season it will be compulsory to use non-toxic shot when hunting waterfowl with a 10 or 12 gauge shotgun for all areas including private land, in or near (within 200m) of a water body and wetlands.

For most hunters this means using steel shot, although others such as bismuth and tungsten alloys are available.

Lead shot has been banned or restricted in many parts of the world for many years because it has been shown to poison ducks that accidentally eat it as grit. Studies showed that New Zealand was no different to other countries that had already switched to non­toxic shot before. The Government made the decision to go non-toxic several years ago, and requested Fish & Game to implement a staged and progressive introduction of non­toxic shot provisions. 

1) ALL waterfowl hunters including private landowners .

2) ALL waterfowl hunters using  private property and ALL Crown land. 

3) ALL hunters of waterfowl, (swans, geese, ducks and pukeko). 

1) ALL hunters of upland game, (all quail and pheasants) exempted. That's because research has shown these birds are not affected because the shot "in the uplands" is so widely dispersed.

2) ALL users of shotguns "less than 12 gauge" temporarily exempted, (i.e. .410" bore, 32, 28, 24, 20 and 16 gauge). The exemption for smaller gauge guns will be kept under review.

3) Black-powder muzzle loaded shotgun users. 

4) All hunters who pass the "200 metre rule test".

If you're hunting waterfowl, (swans, geese, ducks and pukeko), MORE THAN 200 metres from "a waterbodv", which is taken as any stream, river, lake or tidal area, "more than 3 metres wide", you can continue to use lead shot, if you wish. Lead shot that falls on land away from water is not a significant risk to waterfowl

§  If you are within 200 metres of a waterway, over 3 metres in width, and while upland gamebird hunting with lead and encounter a duck, then either don't shoot at it with lead or cover your risk by using only non-toxic shot.

·  If you are hunting BOTH upland AND waterfowl within 200 metres of a waterway, more than 3 metres in width, then you must use ONLY non-toxic shot.

·  If you are hunting waterfowl within 200 metres of a waterway, more than 3 metres wide and you are in possession of BOTH lead and non-toxic ammunition you will be prosecuted. If your intention was to hunt upland game later with lead shot, or to hunt waterfowl with lead later beyond the 200-metre rule, you need to be completely unambiguous about this. For instance, by keeping the lead ammunition back in the vehicle when you are hunting waterfowl within the 200-metre zone.

·  Because of the current wording of the law you could currently use gauge inserts to convert a 12 gauge into a 20 gauge or the like to avoid the non-toxic restrictions.  If you chose this approach and a ranger catches you with a single 12 gauge lead cartridge it will be assumed that you are defying the law and a prosecution will be likely.

·  If you hunt in a tidal area then the 200-metre rule applies from the Mean High Water Mark. So you may be 500 metres away from the water's edge at low tide, but this is not a defense. Similarly, if you're hunting next to floodwaters it is the edge of the floodwater at that time that you measure the 200 metres from.

The 200-metre 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 200-metre rule recognises that lead is not a problem away from waterways. Equally, the small number of shotgun 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 200-metre 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 geese and parries especially. Please respect them or we may all find that the original proposal to ban all lead shot may be introduced.

Non toxic shot will be required within 200m of water bodies over 3 metres wide of all PUBLIC AREAS (such as DoC land and lakes, Fish & Game areas, harbours) and all PRIVATE LAND (all wetlands and ponds).

All hunters are required to use non-toxic shot - this includes landowners/occupiers who can also hunt on their own land.

Yes. The rules allow for upland game hunting (pheasant, quail) with lead.

The reason behind this is that waterfowl are susceptible to lead poisoning through uptake of lead pellets - with lead normally being concentrated in or around shallow ponds, wetlands, and on the edges of deeper ponds. For upland game, the spread of lead shot is much more diffuse and spent pellets are distributed over a wider area - making them less likely to be picked up by birds. Quail also select for a smaller grit size than most pellets used - therefore are less likely to be affected.

No. The rules will relate to the possession of lead for waterfowl hunting - so you can't chop and change in the field.

if you are going duck hunting it's non-toxic shot eg steel shot,

if you are hunting pheasants you can use either steel (or other non-toxic shot) or lead shot,

if you are hunting both ducks and pheasant then its non-toxic only.

However, you cannot simply say you were hunting pheasant. It will be up to you to show the ranger that you are indeed hunting pheasant - no duck callers, no ducks hanging off your belt, etc and if you're sitting in the maimai with full camo gear... "I'm waiting for pheasants to fly past" won't wash either.

There is a provision to allow for paddock (including maize stubble) shooting with lead shot - if you are more than 200m from a waterbody over 3 metres wide you can still use lead shot for hunting.

The reasoning behind this is to allow opportunity for hunting species in high numbers that could be adversely affecting crops. In allowing this exception it does open up difficulties in specifying regulations but the rule will be - you can use lead shot if you're more than 200m from water greater than 3 metres wide (ie in most practical situations if can't jump across the water in your red band gumboots).

Examples:

Must be more than 200m away to be able to use lead from:

~ any lakes, ponds, streams or water bodies wider than three metres; including

~ Drains wider than 3m

~ Shallow lagoon less than (for example) 10cm deep, but wider than 3 metres.

Can use lead within 200m of drain:

~ less than 2m wide  .

~ a temporary puddle in paddock under 3 metres wide

Yes, the ban applies to 10 and 12 gauge. The exemption for smaller gauge guns will be kept under review and the ban will be extended to smaller gauge guns once non-toxic alternatives are readily available for at least 20 gauge guns.

For those people who wish to continue hunting using muzzle loading guns, regional Fish and Game Councils will consider applications for an exemption to allow the continued use of lead shot for those guns on a case by case and gun specific basis.

1. Am I hunting with a 10 or 12 gauge?

2. Am I hunting waterfowl?

3. Am I within 200 metres of a waterbody? (see "200 metre rule test" for explanation of