Detecting Steel Shot in Waterfowl

[illini40]

Hi

Before I run duck and goose meat through the grinder (and a mouth), I’m curious for how you ensure there is no shot still in the meat?

Are there detectors you have had luck with?

Most of the birds taken would have been with #2 or BB.

 

[indaswamp]

Buy a stud detector from Lowe's or home Depot. It detects the steel nails used in construction of the house..

 

[oberst]

Here is the problem; steel pellet in a bird with no shot track. Probably hit a couple years ago and the wound channel healed. Does this look like a $1,400 crown in the making; oh yea!

All that has worked for me without fail is to cut up the birds in small enough pieces so that a shot is visible. That’s what happened here. A bird without a blemish was holding this. Not uncommon. I’ve tried the pin pointers but haven’t found them consistent compared to cutting. Be wonderful to know a dentist and use their xray!

 

[whtelk]

congratulations on a successful hunt. My brother loves the ducks I shoot.

 

[SmokinEdge]

So what is the problem if you miss one or two? I grew up on upland game birds with lead shot. Bit down on a few but always spit them out. The feathers that the bb’s drive into the meat, that’s what bothers me.

 

[oberst]

It’s the steel shot that can wrec havoc. I know what you mean; we never worried much about lead shot and I don’t remember any real problems with it. A #2 steel can break a tooth, especially an older tooth.

 

[DanMcG]

get a small hand held metal detector like this.
I'm not recommending this brand but find something similar

 

[poacherjoe]

Throw the steel shot away and go back to lead ! My Nephew gave me
some duck sausage and I damn near broke a tooth on a big hunk of steel shot . I have bitten into lead shot for years and never came close to breaking a tooth. If you use very large shot it will be easier to find vs small shot. I wouldn't want to ruin my blade on my grinder .

 

[indaswamp]

Throw the steel shot away and go back to lead ! My Nephew gave me
some duck sausage and I damn near broke a tooth on a big hunk of steel shot . I have bitten into lead shot for years and never came close to breaking a tooth. If you use very large shot it will be easier to find vs small shot. I wouldn't want to ruin my blade on my grinder .

Wish we could, but lead shot is illegal for waterfowl hunting.

 

[chef jimmyj]

Just a wild guess, but wouldn't a heavy pull Magnet yank out the shot or at least show where to cut as the meat bulges?...JJ

250 lb. Pull Retrieving Magnet

Amazing deals on this 250Lb Pull Retrieving Magnet at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Fueling Around]

Yes, lead shot is more forgiving on the dental work, but lead is less forgiving on the health aspects.
Lead shot banned in the flyways due to poisoning by partial shoots and ingestion by the birds feeding.

Buy a stud detector from Lowe's or home Depot. It detects the steel nails used in construction of the house..

Sorry, stud detectors use density change, not metal detection. I don't think it will work to find a bb sized pieces of shot.

get a small hand held metal detector like this.
I'm not recommending this brand but find something similar

That is what you need.

 

[forktender]

The best way is to slice the meat thinly then lay it on a plate and nuke it for a few seconds in the microwave.
Even small dove and quail shot lights up with sparks. I've tried the Garrette Carrot metal detectors, and they only work with large shot and still not very well. I've heard small rare earth magnets work, but you have to take your time. Heck with that the microwave is fail proof and quicker than spit.
Shot will tear up grinder gears along with your teeth, I have two crowns and one tooth that needs a crown.
I wish I would've known about the microwave trick a few years ago.

 

[illini40]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone.

Here is the problem; steel pellet in a bird with no shot track. Probably hit a couple years ago and the wound channel healed. Does this look like a $1,400 crown in the making; oh yea!
View attachment 477004

All that has worked for me without fail is to cut up the birds in small enough pieces so that a shot is visible. That’s what happened here. A bird without a blemish was holding this. Not uncommon. I’ve tried the pin pointers but haven’t found them consistent compared to cutting. Be wonderful to know a dentist and use their xray!

Thank you. This may be silly, but how small do you need to slice/cut everything up?

get a small hand held metal detector like this.
I'm not recommending this brand but find something similar

Thank you. Anything specific I need to look into for one of these? Seems like there are a lot of options/brands/etc out there.

Yes, lead shot is more forgiving on the dental work, but lead is less forgiving on the health aspects.
Lead shot banned in the flyways due to poisoning by partial shoots and ingestion by the birds feeding.
Sorry, stud detectors use density change, not metal detection. I don't think it will work to find a bb sized pieces of shot.


That is what you need.

Thank you. Any experience with the small metal detectors (like what you suggested is what I need)?

 

[DanMcG]

I have the Garret Carrot and although I never detected a bird, I don't see any reason it wouldn't work

 

[oberst]

You have to slice it thin enough to detect a shot. It’s not too bad once you get used to it but a big batch of goose sausage would be some work. Microwave does crackle as it detects shot. I’m going to try that next, especially on chunks that don’t have any shot tracks.

 

[Bearcarver]

get a small hand held metal detector like this.
I'm not recommending this brand but find something similar

^^^This has to be the best idea I see here.^^^

Bear

 

[Winterrider]

We use this for finding steel shot in birds. Works good.
https://www.rockler.com Little Wizard II

 

[indaswamp]

Never seen the little wizard before....thanks for posting winterrider!

 

[Fueling Around]

We use this for finding steel shot in birds. Works good.
https://www.rockler.com Little Wizard II
View attachment 477189

That's the one I've used from wood worker buddy.

 

[ghostguy6]

I use this one after $2800 worth of dental work. It will find a single steel BB through 10" of frozen meat on the high setting. I run it over every bird and deer I shoot now. This year it found a few pieces of copper from the jacket in my deer this year. I would have never noticed without it.

CSI Pro-Pointer® AT | Garrett Metal Detectors

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