Posted on 11/06/2008 3:33:55 PM PST by SJackson
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A North Dakota program that distributes venison to the needy will accept only deer killed with arrows, fearing that firearm-shot meat may contain lead fragments.
"We're calling out to bow hunters to spend a little more time in the tree stand," said Ann Pollert, executive director of the North Dakota Community Action Partnership, which administers the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program.
Officials in North Dakota and other states have warned about eating venison killed with lead ammunition since the spring, when a physician conducting tests using a CT scanner found lead in samples of donated deer meat.
The findings led North Dakota's health department to order food pantries to throw out donated venison. Some groups that organize venison donations have called such actions premature and unsupported by science.
The North Dakota Community Action Partnership distributed 17,000 pounds of venison from 381 donated deer after last year's hunting season, a number that has tripled since the program began in North Dakota in 2004, Pollert said. At least 4,000 pounds of venison were in food pantries in the state when the health department issued its warning, she said.
Ms. Pollert said her group had been waiting on findings from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been studying potential health risks for people who eat venison killed with high-velocity ammunition.
The results of the federal study were expected last month but have been delayed. North Dakota's deer season opens Friday.
"We had to make a decision," Ms. Pollert said.
A draft report has been completed but it has not been released, said Stephen Pickard, a CDC epidemiologist who works with the state Health Department in Bismarck.
"It has to go through clearance and cross-clearance," he said. "The wheels of government are just grinding."
North Dakota health officials and the CDC collected blood samples in May from 738 people as young as 2, Dr. Pickard said. Most were collected from adults who had eaten venison killed with high-velocity ammo, though some samples were taken from people who had eaten pheasants and waterfowl shot with either lead or nonlead pellets, he said.
A study by Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources found that fragments from lead bullets spread as far as 18 inches away from the wound. That state's health department has advised that children under 6 and pregnant women avoid eating venison.
Those groups are most at risk from lead poisoning, which can cause confusion, learning problems and convulsions, and in severe cases can lead to brain damage and death.
Terry Steinwand, director of North Dakota's Game and Fish Department, said nearly 100,000 North Dakotans - or about a sixth of the state's population - went deer hunting last year and more than 100,000 deer were killed.
Mr. Steinwand said he suspects some hunters will switch to nonlead bullets but most will opt for traditional ammo. His department has made no recommendations to hunters on the type of ammunition that should be used, he said.
"Hunters should take good care of the kill and make well-placed shots to minimize the risk of lead contamination," Mr. Steinwand said.
LOL ...
No reason for the homeless to eat free venison when the government can buy beef. My recollection the results of this "study", I think it was simply a single Doctor, weren't universally accepted.
it begins...
dumber than hell squareheads
Another example which proves that the difference between ignorance and stupidity is that ignorance is finite.
I seriously doubt there is lead contamination to any appreciable extent outside of the wound channel unless it’s due to mishandling of the meat during processing.
My dad told me that Einstein said the difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
If I remember correctly.....
What is that?
From what I recall from the followup studies, there was a much higher concentration in ground venison, which imo would point to mishandling. If the food pantries are concerned, there's no reason they couldn't do a quick xray, I believe some are already. IMO the eventiual objective may be to disrupt hunting by ruling certain bullets illegal. It's a shame, aside from the fact that there are a far greater number of gun hunters, I know I'm far more likely to donate late in the season. When my freezer is filled from bow kills.
worrying about lead from deer rifles is silly
squareheads=scandinavians/germans who settled those areas
don’t tell me you haven’t seen Long Riders?
Do they make the homeless eat meat tenderized by trucks?
Obviously a non-hunter put this initiative together.
No I haven’t but I’ve heard the term ‘squarehead’ before. I’m still trying to figure out the term ‘squarehead’ :D
I guess. My ancestors homesteaded south of there, I doubt they’d have had any concerns.
I’m only donating deer that was killed by a shark with a laser beam on it’s head.
to be fair, the squareheads shot up the shite out of the James Younger gang and for good reason
it’s a great movie, one of Walter Hill’s first
you can rent it in the western section at BB
ry cooder soundtrack
“...children under 6 and pregnant women avoid eating venison.”
Oops! I’ve raised three boys to adulthood. All started gnawing on venison chop bones as soon as they broke their first tooth!
Looks like the pantry shelves will be empty this Christmas season in ND.
Thank a dopey Liberal! :)
i have eaten plenty of shot from duck and dove hunting
never ever from deer, the bullet just doesn’t break up that much...usually
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.