The Oregon Fish and Wildlife has planned to ask residents about their thought on using lead ammunition for hunting. The survey will be mailed this June to random hunters from the state. The department also plans to ask non-hunters about the issue.
Ron Anglin, wildlife division administrator, said that lead ammunition is a national issue due to its effects on human and wildlife health. Other states have plans to change their rules with regards to the use of lead ammunition. California plans to make lead ammunition illegal for hunting starting in 2019.
It has been observed that what happens in California is often followed by Oregon. California came up with the ban as a way to allow the condor to recover from near extinction. While there are still no calls to ban lead ammunition in Oregon, the issue has been debated on by hunters and non-hunters alike in the United States. Lead bullets have been blamed for poisoning birds that scavenge animals killed with them. 
Anglin said that they want to make sure that they ask the question and his agency is hoping that they get a good feel of what the hunting community thinks about the issue and they can come up with a good response.
The state has around 250,000 hunters but the survey will be mailed to a random sample of 4,200 only. Oregon doesn’t regulate lead bullets but since 1991, hunters can’t use lead ammunition to hunt for waterfowl due to a federal ban on lead shells used in shotguns.
Since the ban, steel and other forms of shotgun shells were used. Hunters prefer lead because it is cheaper and more effective. Lead is easy to form and found everywhere. Some of the bullets sold today are made of nickel, iron and copper.
Anglin said that blood tests done on birds of prey showed high levels of lead. They said they don’t know the source of the contamination.
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