Open AccessA comparison of fragmenting lead-based and lead-free bullets for aerial shooting of wild pigs
Author(s) -
Jordan O. Hampton,
Grant Eccles,
Rob Hunt,
Andrew J. Bengsen,
Andrew L. Perry,
Steve Parker,
Corissa J. Miller,
Steve K Joslyn,
Sigbjørn Stokke,
Jon M. Arnemo,
Quentin Hart
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0247785
Subject(s) - lead (geology) , lead exposure , shot (pellet) , lead poisoning , muzzle velocity , biology , environmental science , zoology , chemistry , physics , projectile , medicine , cats , paleontology , organic chemistry , psychiatry , quantum mechanics
In response to the health threats posed by toxic lead to humans, scavenging wildlife and the environment, there is currently a focus on transitioning from lead-based to lead-free bullets for shooting of wild animals. We compared efficiency metrics and terminal ballistic performance for lead-based and lead-free (non-lead) bullets for aerial shooting of wild pigs ( Sus scrofa ) in eastern Australia. Ballistic testing revealed that lead-based and lead-free bullets achieved similar performance in precision and muzzle kinetic energy (E 0 ) levels (3337.2 J and 3345.7 J, respectively). An aerial shooting trial was conducted with wild pigs shot with one type of lead-based and one type of lead-free bullets under identical conditions. Observations were made from 859 shooting events ( n = 430 and 429 respectively), with a sub-set of pigs examined via gross post-mortem ( n = 100 and 108 respectively), and a further sub-set examined via radiography ( n = 94 and 101 respectively). The mean number of bullets fired per pig killed did not differ greatly between lead-based and lead-free bullets respectively (4.09 vs 3.91), nor did the mean number of bullet wound tracts in each animal via post-mortem inspection (3.29 vs 2.98). However, radiography revealed a higher average number of fragments per animal (median >300 vs median = 55) and a broader distribution of fragments with lead-based bullets. Our results suggest that lead-based and lead-free bullets are similarly effective for aerial shooting of wild pigs, but that the bullet types behave differently, with lead-based bullets displaying a higher degree of fragmentation. These results suggest that aerial shooting may be a particularly important contributor to scavenging wildlife being exposed to lead and that investigation of lead-free bullets for this use should continue.