Where does all of this leave us? Even though the North Dakota blood study showed lead levels for citizens who regularly consume venison to be below the national average, it does raise some cause for concern. For example, lead accumulates in the bones, and the older generations of venison eaters (above 65 years of age) had higher lead levels than younger age groups. This could cause health problems in older hunters. Further, homeless folks may be consuming more venison than other groups, which might lead to problems.

The potential dangers of lead consumption from gun-killed deer have led North Dakota to accept only archery-killed deer in their venison donation programs. While that's good for bowhunting, it will put a major hardship on soup kitchens there. Even though Minnesota and North Dakota have restricted the use of venison in soup kitchens, other states have not made extensive changes in donated meat programs. However, the furor over human health issues will not go away, and the call for non-lead bullets for deer hunting will grow.

In November, a preliminary study linked lead from bullets to lead blood levels found in grizzly bear blood in the Greater Yellowstone area. Half of the grizzlies tested during the hunting season had elevated lead blood levels, while those sampled outside of the hunting season had none. Apparently, bears eating offal piles from harvested game are consuming lead fragments. Studies such as this will continue to put pressure on hunters to use non-lead bullets and manufacturers to produce them.

New Jersey Governor Ignores Bear Problems
For the past six years, New Jersey wildlife biologists have supported a limited black bear hunt to curb bear numbers as human/bear encounters increase. Each time the proposal has arisen, political interference has prevented the hunt. Most recently, Governor Corzine and the head of the Department of Environmental Protection, the department that oversees bear management, supported nonlethal methods such as education and the use of bear-proof garbage cans to resolve problems.

Such measures have rarely worked anywhere, and they haven't worked in New Jersey.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance reports that bear-related complaints and damage incidents went from 896 in 2007 to almost 2,000 in 2008. Calls to the state regarding bear problems jumped by 97 percent.

Clearly, the nonlethal methods are not working, yet Governor Corzine continues to ignore reality. Perhaps someone will have to get seriously hurt or die at the paws of a bear before the Governor will wake up and allow hunting for bears in New Jersey? What a shame that we have reached a point in this country at which trained wildlife biologists are completely ignored -- by their own department head, as well as the Governor. The solution to New Jersey's bear problems is so obvious.

New Card Needed in Ontario
If you hunt or fish in Ontario, you now need an Outdoors Card (effective January 1, 2009). You can buy a three-year card for $9 Canadian wherever hunting licenses are sold. Ontario residents have been required to have such a card since 1993, but now nonresidents must also have the card. For information, Google "outdoors card for nonresident hunting in Ontario."