Five wildlife refuges must now use lead-free ammunition for some hunting

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is opening or expanding hunting opportunities on 12 National Wildlife Refuges. At the same time, five refuges will now require lead-free ammunition for certain types of hunting. This means hunters at these specific locations will need to switch to non-lead ammunition for newly opened elk hunting or all hunting on a new unit.

For decades, lead ammunition has been a known source of lead poisoning in wildlife, especially scavengers that eat animals shot with lead. This rule is a small, specific step toward reducing that risk on federal lands. It signals a shift in how the Fish and Wildlife Service manages hunting, moving away from lead use in a targeted way. While not a blanket ban, these new requirements set a precedent for future restrictions on lead ammunition and tackle across the National Wildlife Refuge System.