Detecting shotgun shot in ducks - Help!

[Bum Luck]

I am trying to help a buddy out (defn: a buddy is a guy who drops off cleaned ducks now and then).

As any hunter knows, there are shot to be found in duck and other birds that could take out a $1500 crown real fast. Not all of the shot holes are evident either. An old one could have healed up and not show signs of even being there.

Not only that, but shot isn't the old lead version any more; in fact it's not legal in many places, and the replacements are steel, titanium, tungsten, nickel, iron, bismuth - tin. Whew!

I thought I'd get out the old orange carrot and surely I could find a #8 lead shot. Nope.

I haven't tried all the various kinds of new shot since I largely gave up bird hunting for that reason, but has anyone got a detector that will pick up shot in a duck breast, about an inch thick?

Thanks for the input and help.

BL

 

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[smokeythecat]

XP Deus will. We get tired of digging bird shot on the eastern shore of Maryland. Tiny stuff too. I'm sure the ORX will also.

 

[OregonGold76]

Pin pointer

 

[Bum Luck]

Pin pointer

My orange Garrett carrot willl not do this, not even touching it.

 

[No gold in NY]

My orange Garrett carrot willl not do this, not even touching it.

Your post surprised me. I decided to conduct an experiment. I don't have any bird shot so I cut a small piece of lead from a battery terminal. and made it into a ball(best I could). The tip of my carrot would not pick it up. I couldn't believe it!! The TIP is what we use and depend on. Continuing up the carrot, I started to get a signal 3/4" up from the tip. Then another dead spot. Moving closer to the light, signal again, all the way to the light. This is going to change how I use my pinpointer.

Richard

 

[SanMan]

I think a Whites TRX pinpointer may do the job.

Ask some of the guys,.... I only just got mine, only the tip is hot,..........
And it's Very sensitive.

 

[Molewacker]

Would a small super magnet help with location?

 

[galenrog]

I do not know why this is an issue. While I have not hunted birds since I was a teenager, my neighbor hunts birds on a regular basis, and we are frequently the grateful recipients of many a bird. Knowing that there may be shot, and that we will likely not find all before cooking, careful chewing is always in order.

Having young grandchildren, we made a game and contest of it. First to find birdshot at dinner gets a prize. No broken teeth, crowns, or fillings yet.

Time for more coffee.

 

[cudamark]

My Equinox with the small coil will pick up tiny shot like that easily. Some metals I use the Gold mode to get a better signal.

 

[SanMan]

You have a friend that works in a Veterinarian office?

Have them X-Ray your game birds.

They can mark the location with a red marker.

Or slide them a few bucks and have the shot, (or arrow), surgically removed.

 

[whistler84]

I would lean towards a whites pinpointer. Because only the tip is able to signal off. It would help to zero in on a certain area. I use the same technique on removing old nails from pallet wood, for various project's

 

[Tnmountains]

When eating game with bird shot it is best to just chew slowly and spit them out just like 200 years ago.I now days just use a napkin indiscreetly and remove them from my mouth. You will feel them never busted a crown yet. The new steel shot is harder you are right. I seem to get most out when cleaning.
Good luck !

 

[Tnmountains]

Hey possibly de-bone as well?

 

[Professor of Engineering]

The Tesoro Outlaw can pick those small pieces without much trouble.