Getting the Lead Out: balancing wildlife conservation with Minnesota’s hunting and fishing traditions

Across the country, conservation groups, anglers, hunters, and wildlife advocates are working to "Get the Lead Out" of the environment. The effort focuses on reducing the use of lead fishing tackle and ammunition, which can harm wildlife long after it enters lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
One of the animals affected by lead pollution is Minnesota's state bird, the common loon. Loons pick up small stones and gravel from lake bottoms to help grind food in their gizzards, but they can mistake lost lead fishing sinkers and jigs for those stones. Once swallowed, lead is absorbed into the bird's bloodstream, causing weakness, loss of coordination, inability to fly, and eventually death. Lead poisoning is one of the leading causes of adult loon mortality in Minnesota and throughout the Upper Midwest. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency cites that as many as 25 percent of loon deaths may be linked to ingested lead fishing tackle.
Bill Lesh, co-chair of the Get the Lead Out Committee for the Izaak Walton League of America Minnesota Division, has followed the issue since it gained momentum among conservationists more than a decade ago. "Lead tackle has been on the radar for quite some time," Lesh said.
Although loons are most often associated with northern Minnesota lakes, they are considered an indicator species, meaning their health reflects the overall condition of aquatic ecosystems. When loons are affected by pollution, it signals broader environmental problems that can impact fish populations, water quality, and other wildlife. The same lead that harms loons can also affect swans, ducks, turtles, and other animals that forage on lake and river bottoms.
It varies widely in how susceptible different species are to lead poisoning. Lesh explained differences in digestion affect how quickly lead enters an animal's bloodstream, and researchers continue to study the depths of how lead moves through different species and ecosystems. Birds that have gizzards are effected by lead differently than by a coyote eating a deer carcass for example, Lesh said.
For Wabasha's iconic bald eagles, the lead danger comes from another source. Rather than ingesting fishing tackle, eagles consume lead fragments when scavenging deer carcasses, gut piles or other animals shot with lead ammunition, or contaminated fish and other wildlife. Small fragments of lead can poison an eagle's nervous system, leaving it unable to hunt or fly. Wildlife rehabilitation centers across Minnesota treat bald eagles suffering from lead poisoning.
Lesh said a single lead bullet can fragment extensively upon impact, scattering tiny pieces as far as 14 to 16 inches from the wound of a deer, for example. Scavenger animals including eagles, coyotes, wolves, wolverines and even squirrels consume those fragments.
Organizations are working to reduce lead exposure across Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Get the Lead Out program partners with local communities, lake associations, schools, retailers and conservation groups to educate the public and promote non-toxic alternatives. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources supports conservation and outreach efforts, while the National Eagle Center in Wabasha helps connect residents and visitors to the importance of protecting Eagles and wildlife along the Mississippi River.
The Izaak Walton League, which has 15 active chapters across Minnesota, has taken a similar approach by emphasizing education rather than mandated bans of lead.
A resolution introduced during the 2023–24 Minnesota legislative session aimed to phase out lead ammunition and fishing tackle statewide. The proposal remains in committee after informational hearings earlier this year in March.
Rather than pursuing bans, Lesh said the Izaak Walton League hopes to build on what he calls a "new conservation ethic.” He said that bans in other states like California often generate resistance among hunters and anglers who feel they are being forced to change. He belives encouraging voluntary adoption is often more effective in creating lasting conservation habits while preserving support within the outdoorsman community.
Lesh said hunters who continue using lead ammunition can still reduce wildlife exposure by following several best management practices. Those include removing deer carcasses and gut piles from the field, recovering bullets whenever possible, removing tissue surrounding the bullet path and trimming away meat that may contain lead fragments before processing venison.
Anglers can help by switching to non-lead sinkers and jigs made from tungsten, tin, steel or bismuth. Non-toxic ammunition has also become more widely available, with copper rifle bullets, steel shot for waterfowl and upland hunting, tungsten turkey loads and bismuth shot now sold by many sporting goods retailers.
Community members can also participate in tackle exchange programs, recycling events and educational outreach efforts that remove lead tackle from circulation.
While many alternative tackle and ammunition exist, cost remains one of the biggest obstacles to widespread adoption. More than 90 percent of ammunition sold today still contains lead, and non-lead alternatives generally cost more to manufacture. Lesh pointed out Minnesota's approximately 12,000 youth trap shooters as one group that could be significantly affected if lead ammunition were banned at the state level. He said the cost of a box of shotgun shells could nearly double, making participation in outdoor activities like hunting and fishing more difficult for many families.
Lesh said he worries that if the cost of participation rises too sharply, fewer young people will become involved in trap shooting and eventually hunting. That decline could have long-term effects not only on outdoor traditions but also on conservation itself and the state’s economy.
"The goal isn't simply to replace lead," Lesh said. "It's to do it in a way that doesn't unintentionally discourage participation in activities that have long funded conservation."
Minnesota receives more than $20 million annually through the federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which places a tax on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. Those dollars are returned to the state to fund wildlife habitat restoration, hunter education, public shooting ranges and other conservation programs.
Lesh said a significant decline in hunting and shooting participation could reduce those revenues, affecting the very conservation efforts organizations are working to strengthen.
Beyond the economic factor, he believes hunting and shooting sports are an important part of Minnesota's cultural heritage. Skills and traditions are often passed from parents and grandparents to younger generations, fostering an appreciation for wildlife, ethical harvesting practices and stewardship of natural resources.
For that reason, Lesh supports a transition toward non-toxic alternatives through education, outreach and voluntary participation rather than statewide mandates. Lesh believes that helping hunters and anglers understand the environmental impacts of lead as well as making affordable alternatives more accessible could create lasting change without sacrificing the traditions that have shaped Minnesota's conservation culture.
The Get the Lead Out campaign is not intended to discourage people from enjoying the outdoors. Instead, it encourages Minnesotans to make informed choices that reduce unnecessary lead entering the environment. Whether it's a loon diving on a lake, an eagle soaring above Wabasha's Mississippi River bluffs, or a duck feeding in a backwater marsh, reducing lead pollution helps ensure these species remain part of Minnesota's natural heritage for generations to come.
If you have lead tackle to dispose of, don’t toss it in your garbage or recycling bins, or it may end up back in the environment. Dispose of it properly at your county household hazardous waste facility or contact your local Izaak Walton League.
The Wabasha chapter of the Izaak Walton League (Wapashaw Chapter) can be contacted at 218 3rd Street East, P.O. Box 172, Wabasha, MN 55981, or by phone at 612-999-5828. Those interested in becoming members can reach out directly to the local chapter to ask about joining, attend a meeting or event. Membership is open to individuals, families, and youth, and supports local conservation work, education efforts like “Get the Lead Out,” and outdoor heritage programs in the region. You can also follow the Minnesota Izaak Walton League on Facebook for statewide updates about the group.