Are 12-gauge BB shotgun Shells Considered Non-lead?

June 16, 2010

Question: Are 12-gauge BB shotgun shells considered non-lead? Am I able to hunt coyotes with them in the lead-free area? I have not been able to get a clear answer to this question and others regarding the lead-free area. Per regulations, wardens are able to confiscate ammunition from hunters, but can I really be fined for using the wrong ammo if there is no clear information available? Which portion of the law allows items (including muzzle-loading rifles) to be confiscated under suspicion of shooting leaded bullets? I am not trying to get around the law, but I want to understand it so I don’t get in trouble by accident. It seems the law is not well-defined and has caused much confusion. (Colin K.)

Answer: Yes they are considered lead. No you cannot use them in the lead free area. The California Fish and Game Commission defines a “projectile” as any bullet, ball, sabot, slug, buckshot or other device that is expelled from a firearm through a barrel by force. It is illegal to use any projectile that contains more than 1 percent lead for hunting big game or nongame within the affected area. This includes centerfire as well as blackpowder/muzzle-loader and rimfire projectiles. Additionally, for hunting nongame, “shot” and “pellets” are considered projectiles, and lead in these projectiles is prohibited as well.

Shot made from any material other than lead (e.g., steel, bismuth or other non-toxic substances) are not prohibited by this law and may be used in the lead-free zone to take coyotes and other wildlife as authorized in the regulations.

Game wardens are authorized to seize not only ammunition but any other item (including firearms, vehicles, clothing, game, etc.) that may be necessary for evidence in court. The authority to seize evidence is not found in the Fish and Game Code but is found within various federal and state laws and court decisions regarding arrest, search and seizure.

Non-lead ammunition zone information can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/. The site is frequently updated with new information. The site also contains answers to many commonly asked questions, such as your question regarding the use of BB-size shot.