WYOMING — U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis (both R-WY) cosponsored legislation to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands.
The legislation was introduced by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and pushes against banning lead bullets, in addition to tackle, “unless such action is supported by the best available science and state wildlife and fish agencies.”
A press release from Senator Lummis’s office claimed that there is currently no clear scientific evidence that a lead bullet or tackle ban would have any environmental impact.
However, according to the National Park Service (NPS), more than 500 scientific studies published since 1898 have documented that 134 species of wildlife worldwide are negatively affected by lead ammunition. Negative impacts come from how lead bullets contaminate a scavenger’s food source and ultimately can threaten survival of entire species and the integrity of an ecosystem.
The NPS states that lead poisoning from lead bullets “is the biggest threat facing the successful recovery of the California condor” as well as other scavengers like golden eagles, hawks, ravens, turkey vultures and grizzly bears.
Lead ammunition is not allowed for elk reduction hunting in Grand Teton National Park. The use of non-lead rifle ammunition is encouraged when hunting elk and bison on the National Elk Refuge.
Senator Barrasso has argued for the preservation of lead bullets and traditional bait and tackle because of its critical contribution to the Wyoming economy. “Senator Lummis and I will continue to fight to stop this overreaching rule in its tracks,” Barrasso said.
While lead ammunition is the issue in question, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department emphasizes that hunting and fishing in general do play a critical role in conservation.
Hunting and fishing can prevent overpopulation and the money that comes from the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses by hunters and anglers is used to improve wildlife habitats, monitor and improve populations, pay for wildlife protection and ensure laws and regulations are followed.
