Three bits of clarification:
1. I think that DFG thinks that the lead source is gutpiles. That makes more sense than lost deer, since there are more gutpiles and more bullets per pound of edible meat in a gutpile.
2. If, in fact, the Condors were eating poisoned varmints, and we stopped poisoning them, then there has been a change in the environment that could save the Condor in the future.
3. Carrion birds have VERY acidic digestive tracts and could easily dissolve lead. Whether lead dissolves in water is a non-issue. The question is, does it dissolve in highly-concentrated acid. It does, of course.
On the other hand, it seems like, if the birds have a chance, they eat whatever poison they can find. Poisoned coyotes, bullets in gutpiles, bullets in varmints, puddles of antifreeze. Seems like if one thing doesn't kill the stupid vultures, something else will.
This is about money, BTW. The captive breeding programs are really expensive. If you want to see the real source of the pressure, don't look to DFG, which frankly is thoroughly pro-hunting here. Look to the people who are funding the multi-multi-million-dollar breeding program for the birds.
Some info:
http://www.peregrinefund.org/world_center.asp
http://www.peregrinefund.org/conserve_category.asp?category=California Condor Restoration
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-condor.html
http://cres.sandiegozoo.org/projects/sp_condors_recovery_program.html
Now the one thing that's really a potential problem is that they hope to spread the birds all over the place, down through San Diego, into Mexico, and east into Arizona.
This could increase the "Condor range" to include a lot of hunting areas.
The Catch-22, of course, is that, if the birds are prolific, then there's a lot less justification for making broad laws designed only to protect this one species. That's probably why there's pressure to make the laws now. If they wait until there are Condors everywhere, then there won't be much support for a law like this.
That said, California hunters can be conservationists as well. We have an arid region with a lot of housing, etc. Without conservation, we know that hunting won't be happening here. DU has been big here for a long time. The problem arises when environmental wackos take over the process.