The Alaska Copper Ammo Challenge

AK BHA Volunteer shooting ballistic gels in Feb. 2024

at the Hank Harmon Rifle Range in Juneau, AK

The Alaska Copper Ammo Challenge

 

 

 

Earlier this year, Alaska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (AK BHA) teamed up with the Alaska Falconers Association, North American Nonlead Partnership, and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game to launch the Alaska Copper Ammo Challenge.

This initiative is a conservation effort designed to reduce lead poisoning in wildlife, particularly scavengers like eagles, by encouraging hunters to transition from lead-based ammunition to copper. Lead fragments left in gut piles can be ingested by wildlife, causing severe health problems and even fatalities. To address this, the program offers Alaskan hunters a rebate of up to $80 on the purchase of two boxes of copper rifle ammunition.

Eligible participants must hold a valid Alaskan hunting license and have an Alaskan mailing address. As of December 23, 2024, only 167 rebates remain, so hunters are encouraged to act quickly to benefit from this opportunity.

 

Field Testing: Copper vs. Lead

AK BHA Volunteer unpacks and sets up ballistic gels for shooting.

 

Last February, the Alaska BHA coordinator, along with a volunteer, conducted ballistic gel tests at the Hank Harmon Rifle Range in Juneau. They tested copper and lead ammunition in two .270 rounds (140g Nosler Accubond and 130g Barnes TTSX) and two 30-06 rounds (Federal Powershot 150g and Copper Impact 150g).

If you visited AK BHA’s booth at the Great Alaska Sportsman Show in Anchorage or the Fairbanks Outdoor Show, you may have seen these ballistic gel tests firsthand. (Learn more about our booths and be sure to visit us in 2025). These demonstrations showcased how lead and copper ammunition behave upon impact at 100 yards, including the fragments each produces.

Want to try this yourself? Here are some tips:

  • Use cinched-down or weighed ballistic gel on a level surface.
  • Have a backing material (like a box filled with old magazines or water jugs) to catch the bullet for further examination.
  • Extract and review the bullet’s mushroom pattern and weight retention.

 

      

     

 

For more information on bullet performance and testing, visit huntingwithnonlead.org.

 

How to Participate:

To take part in the Alaska Copper Ammo Challenge, hunters can purchase qualifying lead-free ammunition from any retailer (in-state or online) and submit a rebate claim through the program’s website. Rebates are provided in the form of a prepaid Visa card, with processing times currently estimated at 6–8 weeks.

 

This program not only promotes the health of Alaska’s wildlife but also gives hunters a chance to engage directly in conservation efforts. To learn more or apply for the rebate, visit the Alaska Copper Ammo Challenge website.

 

By choosing copper ammunition, hunters play a critical role in preserving Alaska’s biodiversity and ensuring that hunting practices remain sustainable and environmentally responsible. The Alaska Copper Ammo Challenge is a testament to how collaboration between hunters and conservationists can result in meaningful, long-term changes that protect wildlife for generations to come.

    

About Mary Glaves

Alaska Chapter Coordinator for BHA. You can find Mary outside with a rifle, bow, fishing rod, or mushroom knife most sunny or rainy days on Alaska's public lands.

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