CDC Study Shows No Health Risk
Associated with Traditional Ammunition

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study on human lead levels of hunters in North Dakota has confirmed what hunters throughout the world have known for hundreds of years, that consuming game harvested with traditional ammunition poses absolutely no health risk to people, including children, and that the call to ban lead ammunition was and remains a scare tactic being pushed by anti-hunting groups to forward their political agenda.

Today, additional information became available about the CDC study, originally released yesterday, that is important to disseminate to hunters, their families and the general public about the total and complete lack of any evidence of a human health risk from consuming game harvested using traditional ammunition. For instance, in the study the average lead level of the hunters tested was lower than that of the average American.

In the CDC's study, children's lead levels had a mean of just 0.88 micrograms per deciliter, which is less than half the national average for children and an infinitesimally small fraction of the level that the CDC considers to be of concern for children (10 micrograms per deciliter). Yet, despite the total and complete lack of any evidence from this study of the existence of a human health risk, the Department of Health nevertheless urges that children under 6 and pregnant women not eat venison harvested using traditional ammunition. The North Dakota Department of Health's recommendation is based on a "zero tolerance" approach to the issue of blood lead levels that is not supported by science or the CDC's guidelines.

To further put in perspective the claims concerning the safety of game harvested using traditional ammunition, consider this statement from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) -- a state agency that has conducted an extensive panel of blood-lead testing for more than 15 years: "IDPH maintains that if lead in venison were a serious health risk, it would likely have surfaced within extensive blood-lead testing since 1992 with 500,000 youth under 6 and 25,000 adults having been screened." It has not.   2008/11/06

 

Stephanie L.G. Henson- Manager, NRA Women’s Program Department, prepared the following article.

 

I personally feel that it is a very basic information package every hunter would appreciate, it outlines fundamental preparation topics one should adhere to prior to a hunting trip; you will notice the word (state) mentioned in this article, this is applicable in the USA, in Canada please consider it as Provincial.

Even though this article is prepared for the female hunter, men can learn a lot from it.

REMEMBER HUNTING AND SHOOTING ARE GENDER NEUTRAL.    

 

The excitement of fall hunting season is just around the corner, and women across the country are preparing to attend Women On Target hunting excursions in pursuit of black bear, antelope, whitetail deer, pheasant, chukar and mule deer.

Whether you are going to join them, or go on some other hunting trips this fall, there is ~ much that you can do now to ~ increase your chances for a safe, successful and memorable experience.

 

One thing that most serious hunters have in common is an exceptional understanding of the game they pursue. While there is no substitute for what you can observe a field there is a great deal you can learn from reading. Brush up on things like your game identification skills. If you're hunting an area inhabited by whitetails and mule deer, for instance, but only one is in season, it is your responsibility to identify the legal game. What signs and tracks do you know? You may have heard terms like "scrape" and "rub," but do you know what they mean? What they look like? Learn what you can about habitat needs of the animals you hunt, not only to help you find them but because habitat is crucial to healthy game populations. To ensure you can dispatch the animal quickly, make sure you know the vital areas on any game you hunt.

 

This is the time that you should go to the range on a regular basis to improve your marksmanship skills and familiarize yourself with the guns, ammunition and other accessories you will use. You need to be knowledgeable about how your gun operates. And how various ammunition; performs in your gun. You also need to know how consistent you are with shot placement from a variety of distances. Only then can you determine what your personal maximum shot range is. It's a hunter's responsibility to strive for making quick, clean kills.

 

If you're a new shooter, Women On Target instructional shooting clinics can help you improve your marksmanship skills by providing an opportunity to receive basic marksmanship training from supportive instructors. Of course, the clinics are only the first step. Next, you need to visit your local club or range and practice. You'll find this process especially enjoyable as you watch your shooting skills improve. Local clubs often have NRA Certified Instructors who can help you if you want.

Find out what type of hunting apparel and other outdoor gear you will need. Although women's hunting apparel is out there, it can be difficult to find. Women On Target national sponsors Cabela’s; Beretta and Browning offer clothing for women, as do some other companies. Some companies offer online sales; refer to their web- sites for details.

 

Perhaps you are going to use binoculars, a map and compass, range finder or GPS system during your hunting trip. This is a good time to practice with the equipment so that using it becomes second- nature. You don't want to have to become familiar with it in the field.

It is imperative to research state and local hunting regulations so you can ensure your compliance with them. Check the state agencies' web sites or publications. Also, make sure you know the deadlines to apply for the licenses, permits and tags you need. If you have questions about any- thing uncovered during your research, contact the state wildlife agency and/or your outfitter for clarification.

 

Finally, use this time to work on your physical fitness. A program consisting of walking or running and moderate weightlifting should help you improve your cardiovascular health and enable you to carry your gear-or drag your buck out of the woods! As always, be sure to talk with your physician before beginning any exercise program.

 

This may sound like a lot of work, but when you have a great hunt to look forward to, the preparation is part of the fun! Learning to hunt safely and competently is a continuing-maybe even lifelong-process. By preparing thoroughly for hunting trips, you will become a more knowledge hunter.