I spoke with Bob Williamson, former head Waterfowl biologist and head of Fisheries for IDNR. He said that this is the third time that this proposed legislation has been proposed and the last two times IDNR Fisheries opposed this legislation. According to Bob the DNR found that mortality of ducks and Canada Geese was practically zero. The only species that the lead had any effect on was swans but only in rare cases. He said that lead used in fishing applications was almost always too large for ducks and geese to ingest.
I have no problem outlawing lead if it is affecting loon populations in the Northeast or the Condor in California. My arrgument is dont just propose legislation in Illinois just to propose it. This is typical of Chicago politicians.
You're probably right but I wouldn't put your DNR too far up on a pedestal about knowledge. My DNR thinks feeding fish is a waste of time in a pond, that the more bluegill you harvest the bigger they will get, and planting IPN positive fish into the Lake Michigan is fine as long as the private sector doesn't do it. A few years back when I brought up LMBV to a biologist he'd never heard of it. We also had a biologist think we had a new world record bullhead here. Turns out it was a channel cat.
Just playing Devil's Advocate I guess.
But I'd probably trust the DNR over politicians.
