Application US20190093998

a biodegradable shot wad configured to be confined within a shotgun hull;

a biodegradable powder wad configured to be confined within said shotgun hull;

wherein said biodegradable powder wad is separate and uncoupled from said biodegradable shot wad within said shotgun hull;

wherein said biodegradable shot wad at least partially surrounds shot within said shotgun hull;

wherein said biodegradable powder wad physically separates powder from said shot within said shotgun hull;

wherein said biodegradable shot wad comprises a biodegradable material;

wherein said biodegradable powder wad comprises a biodegradable material;

wherein upon firing of said shotgun shell, said biodegradable shot wad is configured to fragment into multiple discrete pieces during flight or landing; and

wherein upon firing of said shotgun shell, said biodegradable powder wad is configured to stay intact during flight and landing.

providing a shotgun shell having a boundary defining a space, a biodegradable shot wad confined within said space, and a biodegradable powder wad confined within said space, wherein said biodegradable shot wad surrounds shot within said space, and wherein said biodegradable powder wad physically separates powder from said shot within said space;

loading said shotgun shell into a shotgun having a barrel;

firing said shotgun shell from said shotgun, whereby said shot, said biodegradable shot wad, and said biodegradable powder wad are launched out of said barrel;

wherein said biodegradable shot wad comprises a biodegradable material;

wherein said biodegradable powder wad comprises a biodegradable material;

wherein said biodegradable powder wad is physically and chemically distinct from said biodegradable shot wad; and

wherein upon firing of said shotgun shell from said shotgun such that said shot exits said barrel at a velocity exceeding 1,000 feet per second, said biodegradable shot wad fragments into multiple discrete pieces within one meter of exit from said barrel; and

wherein upon firing of said shotgun shell from said shotgun such that said shot exits said barrel at a velocity exceeding 1,000 feet per second, said biodegradable powder wad stays intact and does not break apart during flight or landing.