The early goose season overlaps with dove season. A buddy and I were going to go dove hunting a couple of times after work and were wondering about the goose aspect. Would it be legal to possess both steel and lead shot so that you could dove hunt but also take a goose if the opportunity presented itself? I’m not sure what the legality is for possessing certain shotshells. We’d be hunting dove and just have a couple of steel shells on hand in case a goose flew by within 25 yards or so. Thanks. Oh yeah – we’re aware that we’d have to add a federal duck stamp to our list of tags as well as the migratory stamp that we already have for doves.

you can kill doves with steel

This is true. It would be a little expensive to go hunting doves with waterfowl loads, though.

I'm not a warden, but I would be of the opinion that if you are shooting doves and have a couple boxes of #7,8,or9's in lead, and some steel shot BB's the warden would give you that leeway. Also I've seen them dig pellets out of the goose and/or put a magnet on the breast to see if it was steel or lead. I think you should be ok.

you willNOT be ok.

one dove load will get you in deep doo doo if you tell them that you have a few steel shells to shoot geese if any come by. they make steel 6's and 7's in 2.75" shells. they sell for 6 or 7 bucks.

Here’s where it’s confusing. Isn’t the idea behind steel shot for waterfowl to keep lead out of the water ways? If I blast 100 lead shotshells over a soy bean field at doves – I’m OK. If a goose comes buy and I throw in a steel shot and shoot, I’m still OK. However, if I still have a lead shell in my pocket, I’m not OK? We’re still at the soy bean field where people are shooting cases of lead shot at doves flying overhead.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/lib/pgc/pdf/2005_migratory_game_birds4.pdf

"possession of lead shot while hunting...geese is unlawful"

That settles it. I'll stick to one species (doves) while I'm dove hunting.

This is a no brainer. NO LEAD SHELLS ON YOU IF YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT SHOOTING A GOOSE.
Buy yourself some # 7 steel or some other non tox shot. The federal mandated fine used to be $100 for the offense and $50 for each shell you had with you. Think about it . Most dove hunters bring a box and alot more like two or three.That could add up to $1250 fine per box on top of the $100. When I go waterfowling I don't even have lead shells in my vehicle.

here's two situations i'm putting out for thought....

1.you and a partner are hunting together. he's hunting doves and you are hunting geese. every now and then you trade shell vests and guns, and switch what you are hunting for. is that legal? it's a grey area.

2. you are hunting doves by yourself about 10 yards from your vehicle. you have a game vest with lead dove loads on you and you are hunting for doves. you see geese off in the distance, return to your vehicle, deposit the lead dove loads and retrieve another shotgun loaded with steel. is that legal? probably, but it would be iffy.