Since 1991, federal law has required waterfowl hunters to use nontoxic shot. Lead shot is not allowed for ducks, geese and coots anywhere in the United States. Today there are three main families of nontoxic shot, and each has a place.
Steel
Steel is the most common and affordable nontoxic shot.
- Pros: Inexpensive and widely available. Fine for most duck hunting over decoys.
- Cons: Steel is much lighter than lead, so pellets lose energy faster. Hunters typically go up two shot sizes compared with lead (for example, No. 2 steel instead of No. 4 lead).
- Gun and choke notes: Use chokes rated for steel and go one step more open than you would with lead. Check older guns; some vintage barrels and chokes aren’t made for steel.
Bismuth
Bismuth is softer and denser than steel, closer to lead.
- Pros: Hits harder than steel and is generally safe in older shotguns and fixed-choke barrels that aren’t steel-rated. Popular with hunters who use classic doubles.
- Cons: Costs more than steel.
Tungsten (including TSS)
Tungsten-based shot is denser than lead.
- Pros: The most energy per pellet. Smaller pellets work at longer ranges, which means denser patterns.
- Cons: Expensive. Very hard, so it requires chokes and barrels rated for it.
- Uses: Many waterfowlers save tungsten for geese or late-season ducks, or use a tungsten shell as a follow-up shot.
Choosing for your hunt
- Decoying ducks inside 35 yards: Quality steel is plenty.
- Older or vintage guns: Bismuth.
- Geese, big late-season birds, longer shots: Tungsten or heavy steel loads.
- New loads to watch: Federal is launching a new Rob Roberts Raptor waterfowl line in 2026 in 12 and 20 gauge.
Shoot within your range
Every shot type has an effective range. Pattern your gun with your waterfowl load, learn your limits and pass on birds beyond them. Fewer crippled birds is good for the resource and for the reputation of hunters.
North Carolina notes
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission says most 2026-27 waterfowl seasons are unchanged, with a few changes for geese, including a proposed increase in the Canada goose bag limit in the Northeast Hunt Zone pending federal approval. Check the official regulations for dates, bag limits and HIP registration before you hunt.
