A comparison of lead-based and lead-free bullets for shooting sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) in Australia

Hampton, Jordan O.; Bengsen, Andrew J.; Flesch, Jason S.; Toop, Simon D.; Davies, C. S. L.; Forsyth, David M.; Kanstrup, Niels; Stokke, Sigbjørn; Arnemo, Jon M.

doi:10.1071/wr22099

Cited by 10 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Australia has historically suffered from a reputation as having one of the highest mammalian extinction rates in the world, 27 with 38.8% (33/85) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List's recorded mammalian extinctions 28 . Second, shooting is widely used in wildlife management (culling, hunting, and commercial harvesting) in Australia, and relies almost exclusively on lead‐based ammunition, 18 with very few exceptions 29,30 . Third, very few studies have been conducted on lead exposure in Australian mammals 19,31,32 .…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…28 Second, shooting is widely used in wildlife management (culling, hunting, and commercial harvesting) in Australia, and relies almost exclusively on lead-based ammunition, 18 with very few exceptions. 29,30 Third, very few studies have been conducted on lead exposure in Australian mammals. 19,31,32 For Tasmanian devils in particular, their low population size and heavy reliance on scavenging makes the potential impact of lead contamination especially concerning.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species

Hutchinson,

Jones,

Pay

et al. 2023

Aust Veterinary J

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There is a growing recognition of the harmful effects of lead exposure on avian and mammalian scavengers. This can lead to both lethal and non‐lethal effects which may negatively impact wildlife populations. Our objective was to assess medium‐term lead exposure in wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Frozen liver samples (n = 41), opportunistically collected in 2017–2022, were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) to determine liver lead concentrations. These results were then used to calculate the proportion of animals with elevated lead levels (>5 mg/kg dry weight) and examine the role of explanatory variables that may have influenced the results. The majority of samples analysed were from the south‐east corner of Tasmania, within 50 km of Hobart. No Tasmanian devil samples were found to have elevated lead levels. The median liver lead concentration was 0.17 mg/kg (range 0.05–1.32 mg/kg). Female devils were found to have significantly higher liver lead concentrations than males (P = 0.013), which was likely related to lactation, but other variables (age, location, body mass) were not significant. These results suggest that wild Tasmanian devil populations currently show minimal medium‐term evidence of exposure to lead pollution, although samples were concentrated in peri‐urban areas. The results provide a baseline level which can be used to assess the impact of any future changes in lead use in Tasmania. Furthermore, these data can be used as a comparison for lead exposure studies in other mammalian scavengers, including other carnivorous marsupial species.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species

Hutchinson,

Jones,

Pay

et al. 2023

Aust Veterinary J

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“…The same minimum rifle calibre and bullet mass prescriptions apply as for other forms of sambar deer hunting in Victoria, i.e. a rifle with a minimum calibre of 0.270 (6.85 mm) and a minimum projectile mass of 130 grains (8.45 g) (Hampton et al 2022b). Although not being legal requirements, hunters are encouraged to harvest and carry out as much meat as possible from the carcasses of deer killed via hound hunting, and to not leave carcasses in waterways (Game Management Authority 2014).…”

Section: Hunting Regulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further details on these environmental covariates, including their sources, are provided in Supplementary material Table S1. The 1-ha spatial resolution was chosen because it approximated typical 'flight distances' between where deer of the size of sambar are shot and where they fall (Stokke et al 2018;Hampton et al 2022b). Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that none of these six covariates was significantly correlated at either the Omeo or Dargo areas (Table S2).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Characterising a unique recreational hunting method: hound hunting of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) in Victoria, Australia

Hampton

Bengsen²,

Comte³

et al. 2022

Wildlife Res.

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Context. Scent-trailing dogs ('hounds') are used to hunt introduced sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) in south-eastern Australia, but little is known about this recreational hunting technique. Aim. The aim of this study was to characterise hound hunting of sambar deer in Victoria, Australia. Our study had three objectives as follows: (1) to report the hunting success of the technique; (2) to estimate pursuit times and distances; and (3) to investigate the landscape features associated with kill sites. Methods. Data were collected from four hound-hunting crews during 2020-2021. GPS data from collars fitted to hounds were used to quantify hunt duration (min) and hunt distance (m). Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of deer sex and hound pack size on the probability of hunting success. We used a Bayesian multinomial regression resource selection function (RSF) to identify the characteristics of sites where deer were killed (elevation, aspect, and distances to water and roads). Key results. The four hunting teams ranged in size from 2 to 10 people and from one to eight hounds. Of 136 hunts, most (88%) harvested a deer, with pursued deer escaping on the other 12% of occasions. Pursuit times and distances were highly variable, with pursuit time >60 min for 46% of hunts and pursuit distance >5 km for 30% of hunts. The probability of killing a pursued male and female deer were similar, and there was not a positive relationship between pack size and hunt success. The RSF showed that both male and female deer were more likely to be killed on steeper slopes and closer to roads. Conclusions. Successful hound hunting of sambar deer involves pursuits of considerable duration and requires a network of roads, with geographical features associated with deer kills sites being related to hunter access. Implications. Hound hunting may be a useful wildlife management tool for land managers, but further studies are needed to assess its efficacy for achieving management goals.

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Lead contamination in Australian game meat

Hampton

Pain

Buenz

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Lead-based ammunition (gunshot and bullets) frequently leaves small lead fragments embedded in the meat of wild-shot game animals. Australia produces several commercial game meat products from wild animals harvested with lead-based ammunition and has a growing population of recreational hunters. However, no studies have previously investigated the frequency of lead fragments or lead concentrations in Australian game meat. We examined 133 Australian minced game meat items of four types for evidence of lead contamination. Samples were meat from kangaroos (Macropus and Osphranter spp.; n=36) and Bennett’s wallabies (Notamacropus rufogriseus; n=28) sold for human consumption, and deer (‘venison’; multiple spp.; n=32) and stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis; n=37) harvested for private consumption by recreational hunters. All packages were studied by digital radiography to detect the presence of radio-dense fragments, assumed to be lead fragments from ammunition. Visible fragments were absent in commercially available kangaroo products, but were present in 4%, 28% and 35% of wallaby, venison and quail, respectively. Mean meat lead concentrations (mg/kg wet weight) were 0.01 ± 0.01 for kangaroo, 0.02 ± 0.01 for wallaby, 0.12 ± 0.07 for venison, and 1.76 ± 3.76 for quail. The Australian food standards threshold for livestock meat (0.1 mg/kg w.w.) was not exceeded by any kangaroo or wallaby products but was exceeded by 53% and 86% of venison and quail, respectively. Radiography only detected 35% of samples that were above the food safety threshold. While average lead concentrations in commercially available macropod (kangaroo and wallaby) meat were low, those in recreationally harvested game meat may pose health risks for hunters and associated consumers.

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A comparison of lead-based and lead-free bullets for shooting sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) in Australia

Cited by 10 publications

References 42 publications

Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species

Further investigation of lead exposure as a potential threatening process for a scavenging marsupial species

Characterising a unique recreational hunting method: hound hunting of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) in Victoria, Australia

Lead contamination in Australian game meat

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