re: TX Game Wardens find Duck Hunters in possession of 3X legal daily limit

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The lead shot thing is so dumb. Most Texas ponds are slap full of lead shot from dove season and shooting clays.

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It seems to me that the story behind steel has changed since the change. When we first moved to steel it was largely due to predators and birds of prey eating crippled or dead waterfowl who were crippled or killed with lead shot and the predator ingesting the lead. There was some talk of waterfowl ingesting lead shot themselves but it wasn't, or didn't seem to be, the main driving force. I remember having biologists removed gizzards from birds shot on public land during the period to test for lead so it may be that the results of such study indicated the waterfowl ingesting lead was a bigger issue than initially believed. It seems now to be the major driving force behind the change but back in the day it did not, at least to my memory, seem to be the main reason.

Either way modern steel kills ducks as well as lead did. The first 5 or so years of using steel it was lousy at killing birds but its as good as lead and, in my opinion better because sensible people realize its severely limited range and do not shoot birds at the other end of the football field. Its also quicker to the target at short distances. I have used #7 steel on dove a BUNCH on public land in New Mexico (Its required, no one has probably ever been busted for using lead because the game wardens only care about Elk in New Mexico and do not harass duck or dove hunters). It is FAR superior at 20 yards and less to lead....and decoying dove in the desert is point and shoot at 10 yards most of the time....steel flat out gets there almost instantaneously in that scenario where lead simply doesn't get there at all.

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3X legal daily limit

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That's just one big pot of gumbo. Ya Momma an 'em probably coming over for dinner.

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Sorry man, not even close. Now Hevi XII or TSS is a different story but even modern steel isn't in the same category as lead for ducks. I'm not advocating for it but it kills way way better.

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In my experience at 25 yards and less there is no difference. Beyond that there is a lot of difference but most people can't hit consistently beyond that anyway and shouldn't be taking those shots. I grew up hunting ducks and geese with lead and was around when the transition took place...initially it was LOUSY. Modern steel is, again for me, as good as lead ever was at 25 yards and less and in tight point and shoot situations of 10-15 yards it is better. Again, just for me. I have shot a BUNCH of decoying dove in the desert with steel....and did so by choice (It was required but the odds of being checked were nil....about half the time lead was being used as well). I have shot steel and lead at the same birds on the same day at the same distances and under the same conditions and at 15 yards, a typical distance for decoying dove in the desert, steel is simply better than lead.

7 downvotes ??

Was just a joke.

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Either way modern steel kills ducks as well as lead did.

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You are out of your got damn mind. Lead is so far superior it’s not even close. Lead hits like a Mack truck, steel hits like a Honda ridgeline.

Has steel gotten better over the years? Absolutely, but it’s still not even close to what lead is/was.

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It seems to me that the story behind steel has changed since the change. When we first moved to steel it was largely due to predators and birds of prey eating crippled or dead waterfowl who were crippled or killed with lead shot and the predator ingesting the lead. There was some talk of waterfowl ingesting lead shot themselves but it wasn't, or didn't seem to be, the main driving force. I remember having biologists removed gizzards from birds shot on public land during the period to test for lead so it may be that the results of such study indicated the waterfowl ingesting lead was a bigger issue than initially believed. It seems now to be the major driving force behind the change but back in the day it did not, at least to my memory, seem to be the main reason. Either way modern steel kills ducks as well as lead did. The first 5 or so years of using steel it was lousy at killing birds but its as good as lead and, in my opinion better because sensible people realize its severely limited range and do not shoot birds at the other end of the football field. Its also quicker to the target at short distances. I have used #7 steel on dove a BUNCH on public land in New Mexico (Its required, no one has probably ever been busted for using lead because the game wardens only care about Elk in New Mexico and do not harass duck or dove hunters). It is FAR superior at 20 yards and less to lead....and decoying dove in the desert is point and shoot at 10 yards most of the time....steel flat out gets there almost instantaneously in that scenario where lead simply doesn't get there at all.

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With all due respect, have you ever made a post that wasn't a dang novel...?

OK at point blank range I'll agree. Most of my shots are with clients and I'm shooting at ducks that they've already whiffed on. No one wants to drive 8 hours for the guide to shoot first.

At distances over 40 yards steel has a major fall off.

Stupidity at its finest

This is right by me where I live in TX.

Honestly surprised because I thought I knew who it was going to before before I opened the article ???? and I was wrong.

More impressed they found the birds. This was the worst season we've ever had here.

Lastly. Lead is not even close. It stones birds.

#6 High Brass 2 and 3/4" lead will hit a duck like it owes you money.

Now- yes steel has improved. And it gets the job done cheaper than paying those fancy certificates the warden will give you with your name on them.