I never have understood why lead is supposed to be the scourge of the waterfowl population. Aren't these the same ducks that come from Canada and winter in Mexico? I believe lead shot is legal in both places, so why are its supposedly deleterious effects not observable in the duck populations of either country? This is another example of a rule searching for a rationale. The only benefit inures to manufacturers of lead substitutes like bismuth and other unobtainium $30 for half a box loads. We wonder why hunter numbers are dwindling when the sport becomes more expensive every day. Steel shot saves waterfowl alright, but it does it in the same way Nerf shot would. I realize not everyone will share this opinion, but I say, "Lay on, Macduff, And d***'d be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'"

This is very typical overegulation. Chipping away,...if they can't outlaw our guns they'll just make it rediculously expensive, inconvienent, and threaten the supply (in this case, of ammo).

It's bogus, and everyone needs to get on the phone and mail with your representatives on the state and federal level to insist that the Federal Government provide evidence to support the allegations that lead ammo and fishing tackle cause enough environmental damage to warrant this ban. Without such proof, this ban is arbitrary and unfair to sportsmen.

This is a test, and if sportsmen don't rally and take an active role in fighting it, you can count on seeing it move through other federal agencies, such as National Forest Service and BLM.

Don't just bicker and fuss to one another... make your voices heard to your elected officials!

Lead bullets pose no environment impact and if that was the case why then why are shooting ranges especially military ranges shut down because of this. Tree leaves put far more arsenic in the water creating a far more impact than anything else!

Lead harming the environment is nothing but hype!

Another case of trumped up research ruling over reason and science. Also, another backdoor attack on the sportsmen and women of America. This is the type of thing the government does that gets lots of headlines, requires no action but the stroke of a pen and the average American thinks is wonderful. Look at what we have done, aren't we great for eliminating this potential hazard, let's all pat each other on the fanny...

Uh oh, I think I'm bitter again...

Has anybody found good, affordable, nontoxic factory ammunition for a .270 WSM.. no? I didn't think so. Is this an attempt at rolling back hunting priveledges in some of the parks? That would be underhanded, but clever. I fear it's just stupidity, however, which is more disappointing. I'm willing to switch if the government makes sure "friendlier" ammo is readily available, reimburses the companies for changing their process, then subsidizes the ammo so it doesn't hit the shooting crowd so much. Oh.. and I want them to either buy out or allow me to shoot out my stockpile.

This is about "gun control" without the election losing "gun banning" that Democrats figured out costs them elections.

Make it too expensive and troublesome to shoot and many won't.

Jim

I am a little confused here. To my understanding there is no hunting allowed in National Parks anyway which negates the use of lead shot or bullets except in the case of professional hunters hired by NPS to cull herds. Beyond that, most fishing that I have seen in National Parks (at least out here in the west) is all fly fishing and while I am no expert I have never heard of fly fishing with split shot (for other types of fishing it does appear, per articles in this magazine over the last couple of months, there are reasonable alternatives to split lead sinkers). So, I guess that the people this really restricts are the NPS themselves.

Now, I am not saying that I support this move; I do think it appears to be another action within a broader framework to restrict the rights of firearms owners by the current administration, but I’m trying to find the practicality of it. If the NPS doesn’t want their PHs to use lead shot then fine, and they will get charged more from PHs for their culling activities. Beyond the overt restricting of firearms owner’s rights, this appears to be regulation for the sake of regulation and for me that is really scary, the NPS has decided to focus their resources to do paperwork to create regulations rather than to better manage the parks themselves.

I guess for anybody that wants this ban to be avoided, the only thing to do is to get together and make a stand.

Nate

Where do these morons think lead comes from? Could it be that lead is mined FROM the environment?? Do these morons think lead appears out of thin air just to do harm to everything everywhere?

Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to ban volcanoes because, hey, it erupts and spews forth lava and leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. Let's not forget to mention all the smoke and ash and greenhouse gases too.

These morons are looking for solutions to problems that don't exist.