Courtesy of Chris Conrod
Resources for Tackle Shop Partners
Join the Lead Tackle Buyback Program and make a positive impact on the environment—and for your business.
Lead poisoning resulting from the ingestion of lead fishing tackle is the largest killer of adult loons in New Hampshire, accounting for 38% of documented adult loon deaths since 1989. The Loon Safe Initiative is a comprehensive effort to reduce loon mortality from lead poisoning. A centerpiece of this effort is the Lead Tackle Buyback Initiative. Conducted in partnership with NH Fish and Game and a growing list of small, local tackle shops, the Lead Tackle Buyback allows anglers to exchange their now-illegal lead fishing tackle for a voucher redeemable for merchandise at participating retailers. The Buyback runs on a calendar year.
Fourteen tackle shops in NH have already signed up as participating retailers, and we are actively seeking new shops to join the effort.
Could your store be our newest partner location?
How It works
As a participating retailer, individuals can turn in at least one ounce of banned lead sinkers or jigs (lead sinkers and lead-headed jigs individually weighing 1 oz. or less) at your store. In return, you issue them a $10 voucher (provided by LPC), which can be redeemed for merchandise at your store. LPC will reimburse you for the value of vouchers that you distribute and will collect the tackle from you. This reimbursement and tackle pickup will occur on the schedule that the participating shop is most comfortable with.
We keep the administrative burden low for participating shops. We don’t ask shops to weigh the tackle in each transaction—we trust your experience to judge what is being turned in. We provide you with all of the materials you need—vouchers, bags, and promotional signage.
What’s in it for you?
We hope that the Lead Tackle Buyback Program will serve a dual purpose: helping to eliminate lead poisoining as a cause of loon mortality in New Hampshire, and driving additional business to our participating retailers. Benefits to participating retailers include:
1) Free publicity: Each year, LPC advertises the program (including a list of participating retailers) through a variety of media, including ads in statewide and local newspapers (including the Hawkeye Hunting & Fishing News, The New Hampshire Union Leader, The Concord Monitor, The Conway Daily Sun, the Berlin Daily Sun, The Valley News, The Meredith News, and others), digital ads on social media (Facebook and Instagram), and radio ads.
2) New customer traffic and an enticement (vouchers) to drive customers to your store.
We hope you will join us! Since the Lead Tackle Buyback began in 2018, we have grown this effort from a three-month program to a year-round program, increased participating locations from two to fourteen, and collected over 60,000 pieces of lead tackle—almost all within the size range that is known to kill loons. Most importantly, we have had the opportunity to support local retailers and help anglers make the switch to non-lead alternatives. Please contact Caroline Hughes at volunteers@loon.org if you have questions or would like to partner with us. Thank you!
