Recently, British shooting and country land management organisations have together launched a campaign to further reinforce the law in the minds of shooters across the UK. In all areas of the UK it is illegal to shoot lead shot over wetlands and in England and Wales specifically, lead shot is also prohibited over all foreshore and specified Sites of Scientific Interest. It is also illegal to shoot any wildfowl over England and Wales with lead shot, regardless of whether inland or over water. 

 

Whilst many of the wildfowling clubs around the coast regulate their members and ensure strict rules on lead shot are enforced, the campaign has come about due to evidence suggesting that some inland duck shoots in England and Wales are not complying with this strict lead ban. Organisations, which include the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Country Land and Business Association, the Countryside Alliance, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Moorland Association, the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and the Union of Country Sports Workers, are concerned that this might encourage moves towards further restrictions on the use of lead shot.

 

This may be a contributory factor as to why the 2013 wildfowling season has seen more shooters turning to steel shot as the only affordable alternative to lead. With the future of lead currently up in the air, the demand for steel shot cartridges is fast growing within the shooting community. The standard of steel shot cartridge has greatly improved after a large amount of research and development leading to many shooters who now use steel shot very successfully and affordably whilst fully complying with the law.