New non-toxic shot type approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[MK18]

New non-toxic shot type approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hunters are required to use approved non-toxic shot while hunting waterfowl, and when hunting mourning doves on fish and wildlife areas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determines which types of shot are legally considered non-toxic. In addition to the already approved list of shot types, tungsten-iron-polymer has recently been added, and is now legal to use when and where non-toxic shot is required.
It is illegal to possess shells loaded with anything other than approved non-toxic shot while hunting ducks, geese or coots anywhere in the state.
Below is the list of non-toxic shot currently approved for use:

Approved shot type*

Percent Composition by Weight

Bismuth-tin

97 bismuth, and 3 tin

Iron (steel)

iron and carbon

Iron-tungsten

any proportion of tungsten, and >1 iron

Iron-tungsten-nickel

>1 iron, any proportion of tungsten, and up to 40 nickel

Tungsten-bronze

51.1 tungsten, 44.4 copper, 3.9 tin, and 0.6 iron,
or 60 tungsten, 35.1 copper, 3.9 tin, and 1 iron

Tungsten-iron-copper-nickel

40-76 tungsten, 10-37 iron, 9-16 copper, and
5-7 nickel

Tungsten-matrix

95.9 tungsten, 4.1 polymer

Tungsten-polymer

95.5 tungsten, 4.5 Nylon 6 or 11

Tungsten-tin-iron

any proportions of tungsten and tin, and >1 iron

Tungsten-tin-bismuth

any proportions of tungsten, tin, and bismuth.

Tungsten-tin-iron-nickel

65 tungsten, 21.8 tin, 10.4 iron, and 2.8 nickel

Tungsten-iron-polymer

41.5-95.2 tungsten, 1.5-52.0 iron, and
3.5-8.0 fluoropolymer

*Coatings of copper, nickel, tin, zinc, zinc chloride, and zinc chrome on approved nontoxic shot types also are approved.
For more information, refer to the 2009-2010 Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide, which can be viewed online at DNR: DNR Home.