The FRONT LINE
DUELING REMARKS
THE SPORTSMEN ’ S ALLIANCE STATES OPPOSITION TO TWO ISSUES IMPORTANT TO ALL HUNTERS .
Legislation , litigation and the ballot box are the three main areas where the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance works to protect your passions . However , the anti-hunting movement attacks at all levels of state and federal government , so we answer . Petitions and changes to rules regarding access , equipment or seasons are a popular way agenda-driven extremists slice away at wildlife management . The Alliance recently submitted comments on two such attempts .
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE LEAD BAN In the ongoing battle to protect hunting and fishing access on National Wildlife Refuges ( NWRs ), the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance formally stated our opposition to a new proposed rule from the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service ( FWS ). The new rule applies to an expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on 18 NWRs across the country — with the caveat that lead ammunition and fishing tackle bans will be phased in along with refuge hunting and fishing expansion beginning in 2026 .
The Alliance has led the fight to expand hunting and fishing opportunities on refuges for decades , spearheading the effort to pass the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 and most recently rallying hunters to oppose the Biden administration ’ s cooperation and unnecessary willingness to settle a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity .
The new rule is little more than the administration ’ s concession to the radical environmental and animal-extremist voting bloc . The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance formally filed our comments vehemently opposing the new rule , which lacks specific scientific backing and fails to consider alternatives or the true impact of lead bans on hunters and anglers .
“ Both of these appeals lack scientific support , and rely on the emotional and ideological rhetoric of extremist organizations .”
— Todd Adkins , Vice President , Government Affairs
RELISTING WESTERN WOLF POPULATIONS When it comes to wolves , animal activists want never-ending protections applied and management to rest with the federal bureaucracy . The Humane Society of the United States has kept the delisting of Great Lakes-area wolves tied up in court for decades . Now other groups , seeing a friendly administration in the White House , hope to wrest wolf management from the states and return it to the feds .
Most recently , the Center for Biological Diversity , along with Western Watersheds , has struck . The lawsuit-happy groups petitioned FWS last fall to return wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains and throughout the West to the protections of the Endangered Species Act ( ESA ). The FWS refused their emergency request , but did allow for relisting under a non-emergency basis , noting that ESA protections “ may ” be warranted .
The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance and our partners briefed the FWS on data regarding these wolf populations , which clearly illustrates that Montana and Idaho are successfully managing wolves , to the point where populations are well above sustainable levels . We filed official comments with the government opposing relisting of these recovered populations of wolves and will continue to support state management .
SAKALOUSKI ULADZISLAU | DREAMSTIME . COM
12 SPORTSMENSALLIANCE . ORG