Since 2012, Ventana Wildlife Society has provided
boxes of free non-lead ammunition
to hunters and ranchers in the California Condor range!
to hunters and ranchers in the California Condor range!
OUR CURRENT OFFERS:
FREE NON-LEAD AMMUNITION FOR RESIDENTS OF:
Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties!
Here's how it works:
Email your name and choice of rifle caliber (and exact product choice if you have one) to nonlead@ventanaws.org Or, you can give us a call at 831-800-7423. We will let you know what we have available and/or what we can get for you. Once we have your ammo, we will make arrangements for delivery or pick up. We ask all Monterey County residents to pick up their ammunition at our Monterey office if they live or work nearby. Delivery options are available for San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Kern county residents. Rules and conditions apply.
Email your name and choice of rifle caliber (and exact product choice if you have one) to nonlead@ventanaws.org Or, you can give us a call at 831-800-7423. We will let you know what we have available and/or what we can get for you. Once we have your ammo, we will make arrangements for delivery or pick up. We ask all Monterey County residents to pick up their ammunition at our Monterey office if they live or work nearby. Delivery options are available for San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Kern county residents. Rules and conditions apply.
Rimfire ExchangeWe are now offering a rimfire exchange program for Monterey and San Benito county residents! While supplies last, we will provide non-lead .22 LR or .17 HMR in exchange for your lead rounds. We then give the lead rounds to youth groups, such as Boy Scouts, for target shooting only. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for an exchange, contact nonlead@ventanaws.org. |
Ranchgate RimfireAre you looking for non-lead rimfire for your ranch? If you have a ranch in Monterey, San Benito, Kern, or Ventura counties, you might be eligible for free non-lead .22 LR and .17 HMR ammunition, and free delivery to your ranch gate. No lead exchange is necessary. For more information, contact nonlead@ventanaws.org. |
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
Why are you offering free non-lead ammunition?
We support hunters and ranchers, and appreciate your longstanding tradition of wildlife conservation. We also support the use of non-lead ammunition. From our experience, we know that lead poisoning from spent ammunition is a major threat to the full recovery of California Condors in the wild. Given the threat and legislation restricting the use of lead ammunition in California, we want to help hunters and ranchers make the switch.
where in the world do you find copper-22?
Yes, it can be difficult to find non-lead .22 LR that is certified for use in the condor range. Currently, there is only one .22 LR brand that is widely available – the CCI Copper-22. And, with the Safety For All Act restricting shipments of ammunition to California, many of us will be looking for Copper-22 in our local stores instead of online. Recently, we toured a few local shops and found Copper-22 available in about half. Here in Monterey County, we usually find it in Big 5 and Turner's Outdoorsman. Call your local shop and ask if they have CCI Copper-22 before you make the trip. Remember, you can help improve availability of Copper-22 on the market by asking for it at your local shop.
WHO IS FUNDING THIS PROGRAM?
Ventana Wildlife Society raises funds for this program through multiple sources, and these change from year to year. Monterey County Fish and Game Advisory Commission has provided funding in most years, along with various federal and private funding sources.
are turkey vultures also affected by lead?
We believe that Turkey Vultures are also affected by lead, but that Turkey Vulture populations are better able to absorb losses associated with lead poisoning. Condor life history has a lot to do with that. The condor lifespan is 40 years or more, but they only reach breeding age at 6-8 years old. Furthermore, condor clutch size is only one egg, and being such a large bird, the process of hatching, fledging, and the development of young to independence can prolong the nesting season into the following year, delaying the next breeding attempt. Therefore, the most successful condor pairs are not able to breed every year. Turkey Vultures, by contrast, reach breeding age much sooner, have larger clutch sizes (up to 3 eggs), and are able to breed every season. So when Turkey Vultures sustain losses, they are able to more quickly recover with productivity of young. Being so rare to begin with, each adult condor death removes a greater proportion of the breeding population than a vulture death would, and accelerates a population decline, because productivity of young is unable to compensate for excessive adult mortality.
WHAT PERSONAL INFORMATION DO I NEED TO PROVIDE TO GET MY AMMO?
All recipients must sign a statement indicating that they are at least 21 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and that they are not legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing ammunition. During the transaction, we ask that you provide your address, birthdate, and telephone number. In 2019, a driver's license number will also be required. As needed for verification purposes, we will ask to see a government-issued form of identification.
wHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE LEAD AMMUNITION IF EXCHANGED?
Our goal is to reduce lead poisoning in wildlife and specifically for the benefit of California Condors in California while supporting hunters and ranchers make the switch to high performing copper ammunition. Lead ammunition exchanged for nonlead is given to youth groups, such as the Boy Scouts, for the sole purpose of target shooting.
