I really can't tell the difference between bismuth and lead holding it in my hands. How does a game warden?
Here in Washington State.....If you are hunting with a muzzleloader and your gun is loaded when checked, he'll ask that you pull the OS Card and dump your shot, which he then checks with a Shot Magnet....Bismuth is diamagnetic (which means it repels), steel is magnetic (Meaning it attracts.) and Lead is neutral.
Same thing with a modern shotgun, he asks you to unload it on the ground, then he runs a "mag gauge" into the magazine to see if your plug is in, and then he uses the magnet on the shells...
He / she will most likely check ever shell, or every "load" on you.
A violation here in Washington means the automatic loss of your gun, and quite often your truck or boat along with it.
Our Game Department is comprised of an absolutely great bunch of guys and gals, they will actually go a long, long way out of their way in order to help you and, on top of that, they are some of the most pleasant people you will ever meet.
That is as long as you don't violate the rules. When that happens they have unbelievable enforcement powers!
Perhaps all this is as it should be, I am not one to say. But I will say I try
hard to follow the rules and I'm none the worse off for it..
Uncle Russ...