In July, Kevin Kreyenhagen, chair of the Monterey County Fish and Game Advisory Commission, sent a letter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and others seeking support to address the shortage of non-lead .22 LR (long rifle) ammunition. Last year, the only two manufacturers on the market discontinued their products, making compliance difficult.
The Ventana Wildlife Society has identified one reputable manufacturer of .22 LR cartridges, but at roughly a dollar per round, the price is too steep, says Kreyenhagen, especially for squirrel hunting, which often requires higher rounds of shooting.
Kreyenhagen has not yet heard back from any of the state agencies. On Aug. 12, County Supervisor Chris Lopez joined in, writing to the State Fish and Game Commission in support of state action. “There might be still a couple boxes [of .22 LR non-lead ammo] on the shelf,” Kreyenhagen says, “but that’s going to be coming to an end.”
— Katie Rodriguez in Limited supply of non-lead ammunition is making it difficult to comply with state laws.
squirrels are worth a dollar apiece.
Take a trip to Nevada
CHP monitors the Cabela’s parking lot in Verdi (just across the border on the way to Reno) for CA plates and “contacts” those vehicles upon return so employ some strategy if that’s where you go.
Then park nearby and walk over or take an Uber…
That will help the sales of air rifles for awhile, for which mail order lead ammo is still available.
“…especially for squirrel hunting, which often requires higher rounds of shooting.”
Well, I need only 6 cartridges for a limit of squirrel. I don’t even need more than one apiece for rabbits. If your hunters mostly miss, shooting up like that, do they know where those errant and unhindered bullets are going?