July 2, 2008

Commentary
Lead ammunition ban in effect this week

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

The regional ban on lead big game and varmint hunting ammunition went into affect Tuesday (July 1) this week, but non-lead ammunition is still available in very limited supplies at most Southern California suppliers. Sporting goods stores on California’s Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley, right in the heart of the ammunition ban area, seem to have better supplies but availability is still scanty.
The area encompassed by the ban includes the D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, D13, and the southern A zone deer hunting zones. This region also has the highest wild hog densities in California and some of its best varmint hunting. Conservative estimates place the number of sportsmen affected by the lead ammunition ban at over 40,000, including 25,000 deer hunters.
“Most people are aware of the ban, but they still don’t have all the details,” said August Harden of Shoot the Moon Outfitters in Paso Robles, which has extensive supplies of non-lead ammunition. “There’s still a lot of mis-information out there. I had a guy in here who swore up and down it included [use of non-lead ammunition for] birds, but it does not.”
Joey Penney at Second Amendment Sports in Bakersfield, which also had decent supplies of non-lead big game ammunition, said that while most hunters were aware of the new law, “I get a lot of guys who think it’s all B.S.”
Lead bullet fragments and slugs from big game hunting ammunition have been found to poison endangered California condors which eat the fragments in gut piles and the remains of butchered game left in the field, and the legislature banned lead ammunition for big game and coyote hunting in October. In December, the California Fish and Game Commission expanded the ban on lead hunting ammunition adopted by the legislature. While the legislature’s ban only affected centerfire big game ammunition and buckshot and slug loads in shotguns used for coyotes and deer, the Commission expanded the regulation to ban popular .17 and .22 rimfire ammunition for the hunting of all non-game animals — not just coyotes — in condor range. The ban also includes shotgun ammunition used for varmint hunting only.
Neither the legislation nor new Commission regulations affect the use of lead ammunition used for target shooting with rifles or handguns, or lead shotgun ammunition used for gamebird hunting or target shooting. Lead rimfire or centerfire ammunition was also not banned for use when hunting small game, like cottontail rabbits or tree squirrels.
Staring Tuesday this week, big game and varmint hunters were no longer allowed to have lead ammunition in their possession when hunting within the range of California condors. Sportsmen can be fined $500 for violating the new law.
While compliance for the new law is expected to be high for fall deer seasons, the biggest impact immediately will be on varmint hunters and wild hog hunters who can’t find ammunition for their guns, especially rimfires.
There is currently only one rimfire round being manufactured – a .22 magnum load made by CCI/Federal called the TNT Green. While supplies were supposed to be in the pipeline, most of the stores contacted for this story did not have it in house yet. Harden at Shoot the Moon said his first order arrived on July 2, the day after the ban went into affect.
Nabor Mascorro with Turner’s Outdoorsman, a chain of 13 retail stores carrying guns, hunting, and fishing tackle, said they did not have any of the new rimfire ammunition in stock and didn’t know when it would arrive. But he noted that most rimfire shooters use standard .22 long rifle or the new .17 HMR rounds, and manufacturers have not even announced when they would have non-lead ammunition for these two popular rimfire rounds.
Big game hunters have it a little better with most stores having loaded ammunition in some of the most popular calibers, and most store managers report they are getting in new supplies by late July. With the lead ammunition ban affecting approximately 25,000 deer hunters across the seven zones, the stocks will arrive none too soon. The A zone deer season opens August 9, while D7 opens Sept. 20, followed by the D8, D9, and D10 openers on Sept. 27. The D11 and D13 deer zones do not open until Oct. 11.
Penney at Second Amendment said that hunters need to get the new non-lead ammunition well in advance of deer season and make sure their guns are sighted in properly with the new loads.
“It shoots differently,” said Penney. “You definitely have to resight-in with the new ammo. My dad and I both had to make adjustments with the new loads in our rifles.”
While non-lead loaded ammunition is manufactured for most standard deer hunting calibers, most retailers do not carry more than a few boxes of non-lead ammunition in standard loadings. Based on store surveys this week, many hunters will have difficultly finding ammunition for their big game and varmint rifles. For example, no major manufacturer is loading non-lead .30-30 ammunition, and most dealers are not stocking loads for common but less popular rounds like the .243 Winchester, .25-06, 7mm-08, or 280 Remington.
Federal has the most comprehensive non-lead line-up in its Premium line of ammunition, featuring the non-lead Barnes Triple-Shock X-bullets and the Barnes MRX bullet, listing loads for 17 different calibers from .243 to .338. All Weatherby ammunition is also available with Barnes bullets, and Black Hills has some big game ammunition loaded with Barnes bullets. Winchester loads the new Nosler E-Tip non-lead bullet into four 30 caliber cartridges and .270 and 7mm rounds are expected to follow later this fall. While generally not available in this country, Lapua has a non-lead bullet — the Naturalis — that is available in many European cartridges, in addition to standard American hunting rounds. This bullet is also made of copper, like the Barnes and Winchester slugs, but it has not been approved yet by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Most hunters, who might be buying the premium ammunition for the first time because of the ban, also have been experiencing sticker shock. Typical cost for a box of 20 non-lead big game hunting rounds is between $40 and $70 or more. While this is comparable to other premium loads with lead bullets (mostly because lead ammunition costs have jumped dramatically in the past two years with raw lead increasing from 20 cents a pound to $1.60 a pound), there has been a lot of grumbling among buyers, according to reports from all dealers.
Many experienced hunters aren’t waiting to see if their local dealer will special order or get the factory ammunition in time. Custom cartridge loaders are very busy, seeing their waiting times increase as orders for non-lead ammunition stack up. Bill Jobson and Becky Davis of Custom Cartridge, Inc., in Goleta, a small custom shop that loads for virtually any cartridge available, said their usual turnaround time is less than a week, but the volume of orders has increased as hunters scramble to get ammunition for their fall hunting season. Davis said the average wait is two to three weeks now.
And while Davis said their prices are really on par with premium factory loads, ranging from $45 to $80 for most non-lead loads, they also still hear a lot of complaining about the price.
“They’re worried about ammo prices when performance in the field should be their biggest concern when hunting,” said Davis. “When you consider all the other costs involved in hunting, the price of your ammunition is a very small part.”
Hunters who do their own reloading will have no problem getting non-lead big game or varmint hunting bullets. For big game, Barnes line of tipped and regular Triple Shock X-bullets and MRX bullets are available in virtually all calibers, and Nosler is growing its line new E-Tip bullets with 270, 7mm, and 30 caliber bullets available now. For varmint hunters, Barnes’ line of Varmint Grenade non-lead bullets has also been expanded with new .20, .22, and .243 diameter bullets, and it also has Multi-Purpose Green (MPG) bullets in 22 and 30 calibers.
“It’s going to be hard for people to get used to shooting this stuff,” said Harden. “It’s not that it’s not good ammunition – it’s the best ammunition out there – but people just don’t like being told what to do.”

[For more information on the non-lead ban and requirement, visit the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/index.html. The Outdoor News Service also has a complete page on the lead ban, including a list of custom loaders, legal ammunition, a map of the lead-ban area, and information and history on the lead ban. This page is located here: www.OutdoorNewsService.com/non-leadspecial.html.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

JULY 5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
JULY 12 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 2, 16, 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
JULY 12-13 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). Other dates for 2008 classes are Aug. 2-3, Sept. 6-7, Oct. 4-5, Nov. 1-2, and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
JULY 19 YOUTH SAFARI DAY: Help expose youngsters who've never had a chance to experience the outdoors by rounding up neighborhood kids, inviting single moms, and bringing your own clan to the 10th Annual Youth Outdoor Safari Day, where they can learn to fish, rock climb, shoot .22s and shotguns, kayak, make quail calls, and identify wildlife. Cost is $40 per family (and includes lunch) the day of the event. Register by July 5 on-line for $30, or $35 by July 18th. Sponsored by Safari Club International, it's at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises in Norco. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981 or go on-line at http://www.youthsafariday.com/emailer/.
JULY 24 RIVERSIDE QUAIL UNLIMITED FUND-RAISER: The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited will have its annual fund-raising dinner banquet beginning 6 p.m., Thursday, July 24 at Vince’s Real Italian Spaghetti Restaurant, 1206 W. Holt Blvd., Ontario. Cost is $15 per person for dinner. Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or via e-mail at gibbent@gte.net.
AUGUST 2-3 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). Other dates for 2008 classes are July 12-13, Aug. 2-3, Sept. 6-7, Oct. 4-5, Nov. 1-2, and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
AUGUST 9-10 GLENDALE GUN SHOW: The Glendale Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, Glendale. Admission is $9. The next Glendale gun show will be Nov. 15-16. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.glendalegunshow.com.
AUGUST 2 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 16, 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 2 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
AUGUST 16 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 23 HOG HUNTING A TO Z SEMINAR: There will be a six-hour compendium wild hog hunting class at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga, beginning 10 a.m., Saturday, August 23. The $100 seminar will be conducted by Jim Matthews, editor of California Hog Hunter, a newsletter on hunting wild hogs, and Durwood Hollis, hunting book author and public land hog hunting expert. Guest presenters include Tejon Ranch hog hunting guide Ron Gayer and GPS expert Dennis Phillips. Information and reservations by calling 909-887-3444 or www.outdoornewsservice.com/hogs/seminars.html.
AUGUST 23 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 24, Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 24 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 30 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 24, Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 30-31 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next Bakersfield gun show will be Nov. 22-23. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com.
SEPTEMBER 6 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
SEPTEMBER 6-7 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). Other dates for 2008 classes are Oct. 4-5, Nov. 1-2, and Dec. 6-7. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.

CALENDAR RESOURCES

For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
    DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to odwriter@charter.net. Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]

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