Perspectives from natural resource professionals: Attitudes on lead ammunition risks and use of nonlead ammunition

Hunting is a popular activity but continued use of lead ammunition poses risks to wildlife and human health. To inform adoption the voluntary nonlead ammunition, natural resource professionals were surveyed understand their attitudes about threats bald eagles, poisoning in health from bullet fragments venison, hunting socio-economic factors. Differences examined by hunter status, type used, intentions ammunition. Of participants surveyed, 61.0% hunters 39.0% nonhunters, with 59.5% using 40.5% nonlead. Concurrently, 68.5% reported likely continue or convert future, while 31.5% was unlikely. Also, some currently indicated they would unlikely (17.8%). Nonhunters agreed more strongly than regarding general mortality eagles. Additionally, nonlead, users exposure eagles counterparts. also shooting characteristics Finally, nonhunters counterparts factors Understanding professional hunters’ may help audience segmentation when designing future outreach messages. Among professionals, are important programs, results suggest have greater understanding awareness issues related effects on environment. Attitudes overlapped between suggesting two groups not mutually exclusive. A substantial proportion it, might switch back need reinforce initial behavior. Hunters both target audiences for education programs.