Small Game Hunting: Shot or Bullets?

The reason for the use of shotgun ammunition in small game hunting is that most roe deer in Switzerland are killed during autumn on so-called cruel «driven shotgun hunts».

Roe deer are hunted predominantly by loudly hunting hounds in forested areas, throwing the entire habitat into a state of fear and terror.

In Germany it is considered unsportsmanlike and is prohibited to shoot roe deer with shotgun pellets. The Federal Hunting Act prohibits the use of shot on ungulates, which includes roe deer. During small game hunts, hunting dogs drive roe deer out of their coverts in the thickets, setting them in motion. The deer move along so-called runs (small game trails). The hobby hunters are positioned within the hunted stands near these roe deer runs. Since the roe deer want to evade (flee from) the pursuing dogs, most roe deer are shot while in motion on these runs, at relatively short distances of 20 to a maximum of 35 metres, using shotgun pellets. The erratic movement of driven roe deer across the terrain often does not permit a safe rifle shot during small game hunting. A further advantage of the shotgun blast is said to be the considerably smaller danger zone compared to the use of rifle ammunition.

The optimal shot placement with birdshot on larger game animals (roe deer, fox, badger) should ideally be broadside, with the center of the shot pattern (shot string) positioned in the area of the heart and lungs (vitals) of the animals. For an immediately lethal effect, the primary determining factors in a shotgun shot are the number of pellets that strike the body of the game animal, as well as their energy. The shotgun shot works on one hand through the high energy of the pellets impacting the body of the game animal, causing shock, and on the other hand causes death through direct organ hits. In any case, it is critical that a distance of no more than 35 m is maintained, as beyond this distance the penetrating power of the pellets (energy) and the density of the shot pattern decrease significantly.

The effects of the shotgun shot were published in an essay by P. Kuhn in 2004 in hunting propaganda journals. The following explanations are based on this essay. The shock of a shotgun blast is generally described as the result of reflex excitability of peripherally terminating sensory nerves. It can therefore be assumed that the near-simultaneous impact of multiple pellets on many nerve endings induces a form of paralysis. A pellet of size 3.5 mm striking at 250 m/s penetrates the winter coat and both bone walls of the cervical vertebrae. The penetration depth of a pellet of size 4 mm passes through the skull of a roe deer without difficulty and remains lodged in the brain. Hits to the skull and spine cause immediate collapse and death of the animal.

Regarding the penetration performance of individual shotgun pellets, the following values were determined: hits at 40 m with a pellet size of 4 mm have a penetration depth of 11 cm, at 30 m already 15 cm, and at 25 m complete pass-through shots can already occur.

It is assumed that at a distance of 25–30 m, approximately 15–20 pellets striking the body of the game animal are sufficient to achieve a lethal effect.

For the killing effect of a shotgun blast, the distance between the hobby hunter and the targeted game is the primary relevant factor. If the maximum permissible shooting distance is observed and the shot is fired at the broadside of the animal, the killing effect of the shotgun blast is at least as reliable as that of a rifle bullet, because it acts instantaneously on the peripherally terminating sensory nerves and destroys the vital organs. A further significant advantage of a shotgun blast over a rifle shot is the ability to reliably harvest roe deer in motion. The erratic movement of driven roe deer across terrain during small game hunts often does not permit a safe rifle shot.

If a wild animal is merely wounded by shot, this usually results in a difficult tracking effort. Poor shots with shotgun pellets are caused primarily by exceeding the maximum shooting distance or by firing at game fleeing too rapidly. It is therefore primarily a matter of self-discipline on the part of hobby hunters whether an animal shot at with pellets can be reliably harvested or merely injured. This is confirmed consistently by the tracking handlers of tracking organizations as well as by the cantonal wildlife wardens.

Danger of shotgun blasts

In the militant journal «Jagd & Natur», an examination of the dangers of shotgun blasts concludes that «shot pellets can be potentially dangerous at distances of up to nearly 150 metres», as pellets that do not strike the animal spread out in a cone shape and could injure other hobby hunters, beaters, and uninvolved persons during small game hunts.

Road surfaces, water surfaces, stones, etc. can alter the trajectory of projectiles by up to 90 degrees. Such ricochets can under certain circumstances travel several kilometres and endanger people or animals in the process. For this reason, it must be ensured before every shot is fired that a backstop is always present.

When a shot is fired, the actual danger zone lies between the rifle muzzle and the bullet trap, which is intended to safely absorb the projectile after it has passed through the target (animal carcass). This zone must be free of obstacles such as bushes, tall grass, etc. A shot may only ever be fired when an effective bullet trap (natural ground) is present. Dense vegetation or water are insufficient and are never considered an adequately safe bullet trap.

The most recent revision provides for a ban on lead-containing bullet ammunition (from calibre 6 mm upwards), with a transitional period until the end of 2029. Some cantons, such as Baselland, have already introduced their own lead bans for projectile ammunition.

Since February 2023, a ban on lead shot in wetlands has applied throughout the EU, and proceedings are underway for more far-reaching bans. While this affects Switzerland only indirectly, it reflects the broader trend away from lead ammunition.

Quality losses in game meat

The hazard distances also vary depending on the hunting ammunition used. When using bullet ammunition, the hazard distance can reach up to 6,000 metres. By comparison, when hunting roe deer with shotgun pellets, the hazard distance is up to 150 metres, with 350 metres as the theoretical maximum hazard range. A general rule of thumb for shotgun fire is: pellet diameter in millimetres × 100 = hazard distance in metres. With a pellet size of 3.5 mm, this yields a calculated hazard distance of 350 metres.

Shots fired with pellets at close range have a devastating effect and result in a corresponding loss of game meat. Shots fired from a distance of between 15 and 35 metres cause blood to seep from injured blood vessels in the body tissue or lead to a pooling of blood in a pre-existing body cavity (haematomas), and also leave individual pellets embedded in the muscle tissue. The haematomas can be removed during butchering. Shots into the digestive tract (gut shots) are possible with pellets — indeed, likely. The leakage of rumen contents through the small holes is not comparable to a bullet gut shot of this kind. A gut shot from a bullet typically results in greater contamination and greater loss of game meat due to the high pressure, as the rumen ruptures explosively when the projectile passes through it.

In 2015, the cantonal laboratory of Bern investigated the lead contamination of wild game meat. According to their findings, game meat can be contaminated by lead-containing ammunition residues if processed improperly. This particularly affects the meat near the bullet channel. It is therefore important when butchering to cut away the meat in this area generously. According to the cantonal laboratory of Bern, no maximum limits exist for lead in game meat, as the legislator (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office) considers the consumption of game meat to be safe despite occasional lead contamination. Consumers may nonetheless expect that game meat is obtained in accordance with good manufacturing practice. For this reason, cantonal chemists decided some years ago that a lead content of up to 2 mg/kg in game meat can be tolerated.

Lead Shot Contaminating Birds of Prey

In most cases, the internal organs are left at the site of the kill, and birds of prey then consume them. If the organs have been contaminated by shot pellets from the kill, the birds may ingest them. In April 2014, the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach reported in its Avinews on findings from a research project conducted in collaboration with the Office for Hunting and Fishing of Graubünden, the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Zurich, and the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Zurich.

This project investigated the high lead burden found in golden eagles and bearded vultures in Switzerland and the reasons responsible for it. Camera traps were used to demonstrate that golden eagles systematically make use of discarded internal organs (gut piles) from chamois, red deer, and ibex hunts. When these animals are killed during hunting or by wildlife wardens using lead ammunition and golden eagles or bearded vultures feed on the remains left behind, lead can enter the food chain. The powerful stomach acid of birds of prey converts elemental lead in such a way that its absorption into the body is accelerated, which can lead to poisoning and the death of the animals.

The ranging and hunting territories of bearded vultures and golden eagles are located above the treeline. Roe deer are usually shot in forested areas of the canton. The gut piles left behind are therefore located in the forest, where both species cannot be present due to their lifestyle and wingspan. The left-behind gut piles are most frequently used by foxes.

Freedom of choice for hobby hunters in small game hunting

In many regions, both shot and rifle ammunition are permitted for hunting roe deer. Such a regulation allows hobby hunters to decide individually which type of hunting (sitting, stalking, driven hunt) they wish to use to hunt roe deer. Permitting both types of ammunition has the advantage that hobby hunters can choose whichever type of ammunition better suits them personally for pursuing the hunt and the particular hunting method. This can also increase safety during hunting. Due to social changes in society, it can no longer be assumed that every hobby hunter has access to a loud-hunting dog that can be used for roe deer hunting. Without a suitable dog, roe deer hunting is hardly feasible.

The two most important advantages of shot ammunition compared to the use of rifle ammunition from hunters' parlance:

1. Shot ammunition makes it possible to reliably shoot roe deer in motion. The erratic movement of driven roe deer in the field often does not allow for a safe rifle shot during driven hunting of roe deer.
2. Smaller danger zone compared to rifle ammunition.

Swiss Animal Protection STS

A study from Denmark shows that around 25% of foxes found dead there that had been shot during hunting had individual pellets lodged in their bodies — meaning every fourth fox was grazed at least once in its lifetime by a volley of shot! No comparable data are known from Switzerland. However, it can be said with certainty that any gunshot wound represents a significant handicap for a wild animal.

One problem associated with shotgun fire is the fact that wounds in the case of a grazing shot often bleed too little to leave a trail useful for tracking. The risk that the wounded animal will not be found again is therefore significantly greater than with rifle ammunition!

It goes without saying that some practice is required and the risk of only wounding an animal is particularly high with shotgun fire.

Shots with shot are more difficult to assess in terms of hit placement than rifle shots. Furthermore, the targeted game — such as a hare, fox, or mallard — “signs” less clearly and differently than cloven-hoofed animals. Foxes or hares fatally struck by shot usually tumble along the ground, while flying ducks drop like a stone. If a fleeing animal has only been wounded, a fox or hare may only briefly strike the ground in its tracks. Birds “spin” with a drooping wing if only the wing was hit. In addition to any traces of blood and tissue, further shot signs are sometimes found at the point of impact, such as torn-up earth, severed branches, or impacts in tree trunks. From the sum of on-site observations, an experienced dog handler can generally assess fairly well what has occurred.

The STS has been calling for years for a ban on shotgun shots at wild boar and roe deer, because for these species the risk of non-fatal shot hits and difficult tracking is high.

In principle, no shot should be fired at fleeing game, nor at moving (i.e. walking or trotting) game, especially not with a rifle. From the STS's perspective, animals may only be shot while stationary, when a lethal shot can be placed deliberately. This should also apply to driven hunts — here too, one should wait until an animal stops before taking the shot. A general ban on bird hunting and earth hunting would also be consistent in this context. The use of shot (“clay pigeon shooting on live animals”) would need to be fundamentally questioned.