Wildlife

Welfare of Migratory Birds During Hunting Season

Migratory bird hunting affects hundreds of millions of birds annually, with welfare implications that depend heavily on hunting methods, shot placement, and wounding rates.

Key Facts

Approximately 100 million ducks, geese, and doves are legally hunted in North America annually
Wounding rates in waterfowl hunting are estimated at 20-30% of birds shot
Lead shot used in waterfowl hunting was banned in the US in 1991 due to secondary poisoning of eagles
Steel shot has lower wounding rates than lead but is less ballistically effective at long range
Band recovery data from migratory birds provides critical population data for conservation

Welfare Considerations

Waterfowl hunting creates significant welfare concerns: wounded birds that escape die slowly from infection, blood loss, or starvation over days to weeks. Wounding rates of 20-30% mean tens of millions of birds per year experience this outcome. Non-toxic shot mandates have improved both bird welfare and secondary poisoning of raptors. Improved hunter training on range estimation and shot placement can meaningfully reduce wounding rates.

What You Can Do

Support hunting regulations requiring non-toxic shot for all migratory bird hunting
Advocate for mandatory hunter education emphasizing wounding minimization
Donate to waterfowl conservation programs through Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited
Report suspected illegal hunting methods or abandonment of wounded birds to wildlife authorities