Initially available for hunting in specific Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), the study is expanding statewide to include all WMUs where a firearm can be used to hunt deer. Participation in the rebate program is voluntary and will be available to all firearm deer hunters statewide. DEC’s research partners will be offering rebates up to $60 for the purchase of certified non-lead ammunition and participation in both pre- and post-hunt surveys.
DEC has partnered with the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University, U.S. Geological Survey, and Conservation Science Global on the study to determine the how the increased use of non-lead ammunition for deer hunting can improve the health and survival of bald and golden eagles.
Lead bullets used for deer hunting are relatively soft and can fragment into many small pieces that travel throughout a deer’s vital organs after impact. Eagles can then ingest these fragments when scavenging the remains left behind after a hunter field dresses a deer. If an eagle consumes a lead fragment as small as a grain of rice, the subsequent lead poising can be lethal. While the bald eagle population is soaring in New York, research has shown that lead-related mortality has slowed population growth. The golden eagle population in the eastern U.S. is relatively stable, although vulnerable to a potential population decline due to lead poisoning. This study aims to determine whether this source of mortality can be reduced by increasing the proportion of hunters using non-lead ammunition.
DEC expects to continue offering rebates during the 2025 and 2026 hunting seasons. For more information and where eligible hunters can participate, visit the Hunters for Eagle Conservation website huntersforeagleconservation.org/new-york
This research was identified as a high priority in DEC’s report, “Minimizing Risks to Wildlife and People from Lead Hunting Ammunition.” Since the release of this report in April 2022, DEC and partners have taken several steps to implement recommendations in the plan towards minimizing the risks associated with lead ammunition for hunting.
For more information, visit dec.ny.gov
