The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spiced things up by testing a voluntary lead-free hunting program this fall at seven National Wildlife Refuges, according to a press release from July. The goal is to encourage hunters to swap out lead ammunition for eco-friendly alternatives—no mandates here, just incentives! Rebates, prepaid debit cards and other perks that make going lead-free a win for both hunters and wildlife were offered. It’s all about reducing the unintentional harm lead can cause to animals while keeping the outdoors enjoyable for everyone.
The Service, teaming up with HWCC and state wildlife agencies, chose these spots to test out lead-free hunting with the incentives for Fall 2024:
- Patoka River NWR in Indiana – Deer hunting
- Blackwater NWR in Maryland – Deer hunting
- Wallkill River NWR in New Jersey – Hunting for all species
- Pocosin Lakes NWR in North Carolina – Deer hunting
- William L. Finley NWR in Oregon – Elk hunting
- Canaan Valley NWR in West Virginia – Hunting for all species
- Trempealeau NWR in Wisconsin – Deer hunting
“The Service will implement a rebate program in each of these refuges for hunters who voluntarily choose to use lead-free ammunition. This includes prepaid debit cards for reimbursement of the cost of lead-free ammunition with proof of purchase and other refuge specific economic incentives. The Service will share refuge specific details as they are finalized. Additionally, a monitoring component will seek to determine program impacts so more effective models for incentivizing the voluntary use of lead-free ammunition can be replicated to guide actions by the Service and other land and wildlife managers in addressing lead poisoning in wildlife. Similar efforts to promote the voluntary use of non-lead ammunition have been previously undertaken by conservation groups in collaboration with the states of Arizona, Utah and Oregon and other sporting groups.”
This pilot program was a team effort, bringing together federal agencies, state wildlife pros, and conservation groups. From deer hunting in Wisconsin to elk hunting in Oregon, hunters will get a chance to try out lead-free gear while helping scientists figure out what works best. Plus, creative hunters can still make their own ammo choices, but hey, who doesn’t love a little bonus for doing the right thing?
Let us know if you hunted at any of these locations!
