Oct 8, 6:21 AM EDT
Study: bullet fragments spread lead in venison
By DOUG GLASS
Associated Press Writer
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A study on bullet fragmentation begun over concern about lead in hunter-harvested deer has found fragments spread farther than most hunters might expect, Minnesota wildlife officials said.
The Department of Natural Resources found lead fragments as far as 18 inches away from the wound in its tests of different bullets fired into sheep carcasses.
"These fragments really go a long way," said Lou Cornicelli, the DNR's big game program coordinator and a study co-author. "The take-home is if you shoot lead bullets, there's going to be lead in the venison and there's not much you can do about it."
Lead in venison became an issue in March when samples of ground venison in North Dakota food pantries tested positive for traces of lead. Lead also was soon discovered in venison donated to Minnesota food banks.
The study found that bullets fired from rifles fragmented more than those fired from shotguns or muzzleloaders. And it found that cheaper, fast-mushrooming lead-core bullets spread fragments farther than copper-jacketed or all-copper bullets engineered to mushroom more slowly and penetrate farther.
The study also found that rinsing carcasses didn't eliminate lead. Instead, it may simply spread the lead to other areas of the meat.
Minnesota's venison donation program will operate this year, though far fewer processors have signed up. Heidi Kassenborg, director of the state Agriculture Department's dairy and food inspection division, said processors have been required to attend seminars on safe handling of deer meat.
Only whole cuts of meat will be allowed because ground venison has a higher risk of lead contamination. The department also plans to X-ray random samples of venison as an extra check before it goes to food shelves, Kassenborg said.
The state Department of Health has advised that children under 6 and pregnant women avoid eating venison and the state's guidance to hunters butchering their own deer is to trim "liberally" around the wound.
"There is no definitive answer to how much additional meat you need to discard to ensure that no random lead particles remain," the DNR says in a list of 10 tips for hunters.
Dave Schad, director of the DNR's fish and wildlife division, said the study will help hunters choose bullets to cut their risk of lead contamination.
Dr. William Cornatzer, a Bismarck physician and hunter whose tests on venison spotlighted the problem in North Dakota, said he hadn't seen the Minnesota study but called it a wake-up call for hunters.
"It just is reconfirming that we need to be careful and probably switch to safer bullets," he said.
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Associated Press writer Phyllis Mensing contributed to this story from Bismarck.
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Study: bullet fragments spread lead in venison
By DOUG GLASS
Associated Press Writer
Advertisement
Buy AP Photo Reprints
Multimedia
Venison 101
Your Questions Answered
Ask AP: Building windmills, seized drug prices
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A study on bullet fragmentation begun over concern about lead in hunter-harvested deer has found fragments spread farther than most hunters might expect, Minnesota wildlife officials said.
The Department of Natural Resources found lead fragments as far as 18 inches away from the wound in its tests of different bullets fired into sheep carcasses.
"These fragments really go a long way," said Lou Cornicelli, the DNR's big game program coordinator and a study co-author. "The take-home is if you shoot lead bullets, there's going to be lead in the venison and there's not much you can do about it."
Lead in venison became an issue in March when samples of ground venison in North Dakota food pantries tested positive for traces of lead. Lead also was soon discovered in venison donated to Minnesota food banks.
The study found that bullets fired from rifles fragmented more than those fired from shotguns or muzzleloaders. And it found that cheaper, fast-mushrooming lead-core bullets spread fragments farther than copper-jacketed or all-copper bullets engineered to mushroom more slowly and penetrate farther.
The study also found that rinsing carcasses didn't eliminate lead. Instead, it may simply spread the lead to other areas of the meat.
Minnesota's venison donation program will operate this year, though far fewer processors have signed up. Heidi Kassenborg, director of the state Agriculture Department's dairy and food inspection division, said processors have been required to attend seminars on safe handling of deer meat.
Only whole cuts of meat will be allowed because ground venison has a higher risk of lead contamination. The department also plans to X-ray random samples of venison as an extra check before it goes to food shelves, Kassenborg said.
The state Department of Health has advised that children under 6 and pregnant women avoid eating venison and the state's guidance to hunters butchering their own deer is to trim "liberally" around the wound.
"There is no definitive answer to how much additional meat you need to discard to ensure that no random lead particles remain," the DNR says in a list of 10 tips for hunters.
Dave Schad, director of the DNR's fish and wildlife division, said the study will help hunters choose bullets to cut their risk of lead contamination.
Dr. William Cornatzer, a Bismarck physician and hunter whose tests on venison spotlighted the problem in North Dakota, said he hadn't seen the Minnesota study but called it a wake-up call for hunters.
"It just is reconfirming that we need to be careful and probably switch to safer bullets," he said.
---
Associated Press writer Phyllis Mensing contributed to this story from Bismarck.
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![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
