[ScottsGT]

Planning on a camping trip to the SC Lowcountry this weekend for some shrimping and fishing and I was thinking about taking along the shotgun and clays to do some skeet shooting. Anyone here know the laws about using lead shot for skeet over saltwater marsh? I checked with the SCDNR and could not find anything, and the old "ignorance" trick won't work. Any federal laws here?

[Sunray]

Up here, if you're out in the bush/field with a firearm, you are assumed to be hunting. No licence and you're screwed. Lead shot(I'm not sure if it legally required as yet) and you're screwed. No dinner. No kiss even. Just a trip to the crowbar hotel after everything you have with you is confiscated.

[DorGunR]

I amy be wrong......and if I am I'm sure someone will let me know....but shooting lead shot over any marshland or water where ducks/geese, etc could feed on this shot is a BIG no, no........and could land you in the pokey.

[Chipperman]

Regardless of the laws, I think it's a moral obligation to use steel shot for the good of the wildlife; and potentially people eating them.

OK, off my soapbox

[TheeBadOne]

.....and many clays have warnings on them about possible reaction to animals (usually hogs). Make sure the water source isn't used by farmers.

[pax]

Moved to the Legal & Political forum, which is the best place for questions about laws or politics.

pax

[Brian Dale]

I couldn't find any EPA reg's; all I could find referred to State hunting laws. In "NEWS RELEASE #03 - 169 August 18, 2003 DNR News (803) 734-3950" at http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/cec/news/aug1803.html , they write that "Nontoxic shot (steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron or tungsten-polymer) is required for all waterfowl hunting. The possession of lead shot is prohibited for all waterfowl hunting statewide." I know that you asked a different question, but they give a phone number here. They continue:For more information on South Carolina hunting seasons and regulations consult the free booklet "2003-2004 South Carolina Rules & Regulations for Hunting, Fishing & Wildlife Management Areas." The booklet is on the Internet at www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/rulesregs/rulesregs.html. Copies of the regulations booklet and migratory bird hunting season brochure will soon be available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold or by writing: Regulations, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202; or by calling (803) 734-3886 in Columbia. Other useful information is available on the DNR Internet home page at http://www.dnr.state.sc.us.

Ethically, I don't think you're gonna want to be shooting lead over a salt marsh, especially when you consider all of the effort and expense hunters have gone to over the years to stop adding lead to those very places. Adding to any PR problem that you'd have is that lead in the sediments is a "bunny-hugger" issue, and the subject of a lot of public expenditures followed by big federal and state EPA reports. More important, the stuff really is toxic. Maybe lead toxicity studies aren't conclusive, but it's definitely bad manners toward the hunters that are going to be out there with you (I know; that's not your intention).

The season on sea ducks in South Carolina is shown as October 6 through January 20th. I especially wouldn't want to be caught in a salt marsh with lead shot during sea duck season, explaining that I REALLY, REALLY AM just shooting clays. Not to a DNR officer, and especially not to a group of hunters who don't know me and who've just coughed up a bunch of money for fancy bismuth shot, or new shotguns for steel shot, or the like.

That's a long-winded way of saying "don't do it. It's all kinds of bad luck."

[ScottsGT]

Case close, won't do it! Thanks Guys.

[Matthew Courtney]

There is no federal prohibition on shooting skeet with lead shot. I have a 600 acre duck lease in the salt marsh where I shoot steel at ducks and lead at clay pigeons.
Before going into the marsh anywhere, be sure and find out who owns it and get permission. People are always tresspassing on my ducklease. When I confront them, they often say that they didn't know that they were on private property. There is no public property within 10 miles. Unless you know who owns the property and have their permission, you are probably tresspassing.