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PROVO — The general season for pheasant hunting begins Nov. 1, and hunters now have to use non-toxic shot to hunt at the southern area of Utah Lake, according to the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Lead shot is allowed in pheasant hunting across most of Utah, but beginning this fall, DWR officials implemented only using non-toxic shot at the Utah Lake Wetland Preserve. The Utah Lake Wetland Preserve is a popular waterfowl and pheasant hunting area and offers public access to many upland habitats near Utah Lake, the Benjamin Slough and Goshen Bay.
The wetland preserve is federally funded, which requires that non-toxic shot be used on those lands managed under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, according to DWR regional conservation outreach manager Scott Root.
"The most significant hazard to wildlife is through direct ingestion of spent lead shot and bullets, lost fishing sinkers, tackle and related fragments or through consumption of wounded or dead prey containing lead shot, bullets or fragments," according to a study from the National Wildlife Health Center.
Hunters can use non-toxic shot, like steel shot, when hunting on the preserve.
