Between 1996 and 1998, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, willow ptarmigan, and rock ptarmigan harvested by hunters in Québec were examined for lead contamination. On examination of the gizzards of these birds, lead shot was found only in ruffed grouse (1.2%). The probability of ingestion of lead shot by grouse and ptarmigans is low. Analyses of the lead concentrations in the wing bones of grouse and ptarmigans and in the muscle tissue of ptarmigans were conducted. Although differences were observed between individuals based on age and sex, the mean concentrations measured were in the range of those that occur naturally at background levels (<6 μg/g="" dw).="" lead="" concentrations="" in="" muscle="" tissue="" were="" low,="" often="" at="" the="" limit="" of="" detection.="" however,="" the="" few="" high="" concentrations="" detected="" were="" probably="" related="" to="" a="" lead="" pellet="" or="" bullet="" fragment.="" based="" on="" an="" analysis="" of="" the="" health="" risk="" associated="" with="" consumption="" of="" ptarmigan="" muscle,="" we="" conclude="" that="" the="" use="" of="" lead="" ammunition="" for="" hunting="" gallinaceous="" birds="" may="" pose="" an="" unnecessary="" risk="" of="" lead="" poisoning="" because="" of="" the="" possible="" ingestion="" of="" lead="" shot,="" bullets,="" fragments="" or="" embedded="">