Public safety concerns over copper bullet use

A Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) survey has highlighted serious concerns among deer managers over the use of copper bullets for nighttime deer control in Scottish forests.
The majority of respondents conveyed concerns about unpredictable bullet deflections, posing safety risks in public areas. Unlike lead, copper bullets retain their shape and can ricochet dangerously. Several professionals recounted incidents of bullets rebounding past their heads or striking unintended targets.
Mandatory copper use has been enforced by Forestry and Land Scotland and venison industry standards, yet most professionals oppose this transition. Animal welfare concerns include copper bullets passing through animals without expanding, which can cause prolonged suffering and make it harder to track wounded deer at night.
The survey found that 73% of professionals use copper ammunition out of obligation rather than choice, while 68% believe lead is the safer option. With the UK phasing out lead ammunition, the SGA is calling for further field trials to assess copper’s real-world impact before full implementation. Professionals urge a reconsideration of lead’s role in nighttime deer management.
SGA chairman, Alex Hogg MBE, said: “Environmental care is, of course, important, as is human health, but ignoring the very real concerns from practitioners at the sharp end, who are using this ammunition regularly, could have fatal consequences.”