Fighting back against attacks on hunters, anglers
By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman
R-Arkansas
Some of my earliest and favorite memories are on top of a mountain hunting or on a lake fishing in Arkansas with my family and friends. I know I am not alone in that. Hunting and fishing are two of the oldest and most valued pastimes for millions of Americans.
This is why it’s such a shame that the Biden Administration has continued to implement rules that broadly attack sportsmen and women’s ability to participate in the sports they love. On June 22, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a rule to ban cost-effective lead ammunition and tackle in eight national wildlife refuges. This is arguably a broad attack on hunting and fishing.
The USFWS rule, which lacks scientific backing, increases costs for sportsmen and women for traditional ammo and tackle that would otherwise be cost-effective. As such, we can expect a decrease in the number of people who can afford to enjoy the great outdoors if we do not act.
Hunters and anglers are excellent stewards of the environment and, without question, are the Americans with the greatest interest in conservation. They contribute millions of dollars to conservation each year, and rules like this lead ammo and fishing tackle ban will directly impact those efforts.
Recently, I led over 50 House Republicans in sending a letter to USFWS Director Martha Williams to express our deep concern for the rule. In the letter, I expressed my disappointment in the effort to phase out lead ammunition and tackle in several national wildlife refuges without any scientific backing and called on the USFWS to withdraw the burdensome rule.
In addition, I chaired a full committee markup at the Natural Resources Committee a few weeks ago, where we favorably passed the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023. This legislation would require that any proposed lead ban at a national wildlife refuge be compatible with state laws and be based on scientific evidence rather than politics.
As a hunter and fisherman, myself, and as co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I will remain committed to protecting Americans’ access to our nation’s lands and waters and stand up to attacks against hunting and fishing. After all, sportsmen and women are some of our country’s greatest conservationists.
Comment
Lead
I don’t see this as an attack on hunters or anglers, lead is just bad for the environment. Ask the physicians at the MN raptor center what the effects of lead ingested by eagles, loons and other waterfowl are. We banned lead in paint years ago and I don’t believe sportsman who spend thousands of dollars on boats, guns and the latest technology will find it too difficult to spend money on lead free ammunition.
Physician???
Rick Wittwer, Since when does a "MN physician" know anything about eagles, loons, and other waterfowl? Physicians usually focus on humans. I could be considered a 'sportsman'. Other than the arbitrary tag for a simple kayak bought in 2006, I don't spend thousands of dollars on boats or recreational technology. I like lead. I like lead shot and bullets. Wind turbines kill more eagles than lead does. Not to mention the effects on other birds and the bees wind turbines cause.
Nothing new.
I agree Rick. Actually, Ohio Hunting Regulations already say "No person may take ducks, geese (including brant), rail, snipe, moorhens, or coots while possessing shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than approved nontoxic shot. For a list of approved nontoxic shot, see fws.gov."
Lead shot for hunting waterfowl has been banned since the 1987-88 hunting season. Lead is a neurotoxin and eating as little as one shot can kill a bird. This is just a logical next step.
BTW wind turbines don't kill eagles. It's the electricity used by all those damned 8 million candle power yard lights that stay on all night that kill eagles. They also make it hard to see the stars. Speaking of which, this weekend is the peak of the Perseids meteor shower and the moon doesn't come up until after midnight so get outside and look up!
Just do a quick search if you're intellectually honest
Wind turbines kill eagles all the time, along with other birds and bats. Someone who says wind turbines don't is either lying or just not that bright. Do you know what makes it impossible to see the stars? Clouds. Yeah, lets ban clouds next. And we should also ban snipe hunting. That old practical joke has run its course.
Hunters rights
I'm glad he stood up for hunters and anglers. However, lawmakers and the people that use massive amounts of money to try to influence them to get the desired law passed, either don't realize, or think they're too untouchable to be affected by the people they are harming with their selfish, unscrupulous and most likely ILLEGAL tactics of bullying outdoorsmen WILL one day pay the ultimate price for being entitled and unscrupulous.