Table Of ContentOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Lead Ammunition Survey Summary
Concern and scrutiny over the use of lead ammunition in regards to human health and wildlife
has increased in recent years. California’s 2013 legislative action to phase out all lead
ammunition has brought heightened attention to lead ammunition use in Oregon and other states.
This concern and attention prompted the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to partner with
Oregon State University’s Survey Research Center and Wildlife Extension to design and conduct
a public opinion survey on lead ammunition use and related issues. The results of the 2014
survey are currently being analyzed by Oregon State University for publication in a scientific
journal. The knowledge gained from this survey will inform decision makers of perceptions
about the use of lead ammunition and the perceived impacts on humans and wildlife by both the
hunting community and the general public.
Separate surveys were designed and conducted for hunters and the general public. The hunter
survey included 33 questions in order to get more specific details on current firearm and
ammunition usage for big game and unprotected mammal & furbearer hunts. Therefore the
general public survey consisted of fewer questions. Both groups responded to a subset of
questions that allowed comparison of opinions, knowledge, and preferences between the two
groups.
The following provides a basic summary of the findings; and in some cases hunter and public
responses to questions were displayed side by side in order to best present the data. All tables
and charts were generated from survey responses and created by Oregon State University’s
Survey Research Center.
Due to differences in response rate to individual questions, percentage may not total exactly 100
percent.
For more information about the survey and to see the survey questions you can go to:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/lead/index.asp
Response Information
Hunter - All Mail and Web/Mail Response Rate by Mode
40%
35%
30%
25%
15%
20% Web
35%
Paper
15%
10%
16%
5%
0%
All Mail Web/Mail
Public – Conducted solely by mail.
Hunter - Response Rates for each Region by Survey Mode, with a consistent Response Rate across Regions
40.0%
35.0%
30.0% 6.3% 8.1%
7.4% 8.1%
25.0%
20.0%
Web
15.0%
26.8% 26.6%
24.2% 24.3%
10.0% Paper
5.0%
0.0%
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Hunting Experience (Hunter & Public)
Public Q2: Have you ever hunted using a firearm?
Percent of Respondents (Public)
2%
42%
56%
Random sample of public showed a relatively high percentage of people who had hunted at some time in the past.
Hunter Q3: Did you hunt in Oregon anytime from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013?
Percent of Respondents (Hunters)
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Hunter Q4: For 2013, did you use a bow, firearms, or both bow and firearms to hunt?
Percent of Respondents Using Bow, Firearms, or Both to Hunt in Oregon in 2013
Firearms users (shotgun and/or rifle) comprise the bulk of hunters surveyed.
Hunter Q5: About how many total days did you spend hunting with a firearm in Oregon
during 2013?
Number of Days in 2013 Respondents Hunted
22% 22%
17%
14%
13%
12%
0%
1-3 days 4-6 days 7-9 days 10-13 days 14-20 days21 or more No
days response
Firearms hunters include upland birds, waterfowl, big game, furbearers and unprotected mammals. Number of days
hunted may reflect hunting multiple species and seasons.
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Hunter Q6-9: Did you hunt migratory game birds, waterfowl, upland game birds, turkey, or
big game in Oregon in 2013?
82%
21%
17%
15%
Q6. Migratory game Q7. Upland game Q8. Big game with Q9. Big game with
birds and waterfowl birds or wild turkey non-lead lead
with non-lead
Some hunters are already hunting with non-lead ammunition. Until now, we have not had any solid information on
use of non-lead ammunition in Oregon. Migratory game birds includes dove and band-tailed pigeon.
Hunter Q10: When hunting big game using ammunition that contains lead do you mostly use
ammunition off-the-shelf/mail order, reloaded, or an equal combination of both?
1%
Mostly off-the-shelf/mail
order
16%
Mostly reloaded
Equal combination of off-
24% the-shelf/mail order and
60% reloaded
No response
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Hunter Q11: Type of firearm used for hunting big game in Oregon in 2013?
92%
32%
18%
9%
5%
Centerfire rifle Handgun Shotgun Muzzleloader Other
Hunter Q12: What are the reasons, if any, that would influence you to switch to non-lead
ammunition for hunting big game in Oregon?
Among hunters, use of non-lead ammunition is affected by questions about performance, the science behind the
issue, availability and cost.
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Hunter Q15: When hunting unprotected mammals or furbearers using ammunition that
contains lead do you mostly use ammunition off-the-shelf/mail order, reloaded, or an equal
combination of both?
Hunter Q16: Type of firearm used for hunting unprotected mammals or furbearers in Oregon
in 2013?
80%
76%
45%
43%
7%
3%
Centerfire Rimfire rifle Handgun Shotgun Muzzleloader Other
rifle
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Hunter Q17: What are the reasons, if any, that would influence you to switch to non-lead
ammunition for hunting unprotected mammals or furbearers in Oregon?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
i. Under no circumstances would I
switch to non-lead ammunition.
c. If I knew non-lead ammunition
performance (e.g., accuracy, killing…
b. If I knew there were negative health
effects of lead on Oregon’s wildlife …
d. If there were greater local availability
of non-lead ammunition.
a. If I knew there were negative health
effects of lead on people.
h. If I received a coupon that would
offset the additional cost of purchasing…
e. If there were greater availability of
non-lead ammunition online.
j. Other
g. If the cost was no more than 25%
higher than lead-based ammunition.
f. If the cost was 25% - 50% higher than
lead-based ammunition.
These responses provide insights to the factors respondents would consider in making a switch to non-lead
ammunition when hunting unprotected mammals and furbearers.
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Hunter Q19: Which of the following have been sources of information for you regarding the
effects of ammunition that contains lead?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
h. Sportsmen's magazine
i. Mass media
d. Other hunters
f. NRA or other
k. Hunting organization
b. ODFW printed materials
a. ODFW website
j. Federal agency
l. Conservation/Environmental…
c. ODFW employee(s)
g. Health provider/doctor
e. OSU Extension service
m. Other
Hunter Q20: Of those that have been a source of information for you (as stated in Q19),
which 3 do you feel are the most reliable sources.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
h. Sportsmen's magazine
f. NRA or other
k. Hunting organization
d. Other hunters
b. ODFW printed materials
a. ODFW website
i. Mass media
j. Federal agency
m. Other
l. Conservation/Environmental…
g. Health provider/doctor
c. ODFW employee(s)
e. OSU Extension service
Sports magazines, NRA, and hunters are the preferred sources of information on this issue.
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COMPARISON – Source vs Credibility
(Hunters)
m. Other
e. OSU Extension service
g. Health provider/doctor
c. ODFW employee(s)
l. Conservation/Environmental…
j. Federal agency
a. ODFW website Source
b. ODFW printed materials Credibility
k. Hunting organization
f. NRA or other
d. Other hunters
i. Mass media
h. Sportsmen's magazine
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Identifies various sources hunters use to gather information and provides insights into the credibility of each of these
sources.
Hunter Q22: Information about ammunition choices and lead effects can be delivered to
hunters in many ways. Which 2 of these do you most prefer?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Printed materials (newsletters, magazines,…
ODFW hunting regulations
Online
Personal contact
TV or radio
Email
Other
Social media
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Description:When asked about an option in which region-specific regulations would allow use of lead-based ammunition but require gut pile removal from the hunting field, there was general agreement between general public and hunter respondents, although strong opposition was greater among hunters.
