The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance has spent the past 50 years defending hunting , fishing and trapping . Beginning in the 1970s , the organization assembled to protect the rights of those who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle . It goes to bat for sportsmen on important issues in each of the 50 states . It doesn ’ t avoid or shy away from challenges at any level of government . No issue is too big or small to tackle . Private and public land matters alike , the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance fights for hunting , trapping and fishing rights .
As an organization , we celebrate a lot of wins . Throughout the decades , we ’ ve won on many fronts , and we continue to do so . But that doesn ’ t mean we haven ’ t lost hunts . The animal activists have been , still are and will be coming . Don ’ t consider your heritage safe . Nothing is off limits for those who seek to end America ’ s hunting , trapping and fishing cultures . The following are examples of outdoor adventures we ’ ve lost .
LEAD AMMO HUNTING In 2022 , the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service ( USFWS ) released plans to phase out the use of lead ammunition on certain public lands — mostly new hunting opportunities on wildlife refuges . Unsurprisingly , the news was “ Trojan horsed ” along with good news of new hunting opportunities on 19 wildlife refuges .
Lead ammunition continues to be a target of underhanded antihunting schemes , as lead bans often reduce hunting opportunities .
From bears to bobcats , hunting seasons have been eliminated in some states with no thought to science or biologically based management objectives .
Looking back , during the Obama administration , Dan Ashe , who served as director of the USFWS , issued a last-minute order banning lead on all national wildlife refuges . This occurred the day before President Trump was sworn into office . Soon after Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke was sworn in , that order was rescinded . Now , the Biden administration could revert to those Obama-era regulations .
According to some sources , if extended to a broader covering of public lands , that would result in the banning of lead ammo on approximately 20 percent of America ’ s land . This potential ban could also impact shooters . A broader public-land lead ban would also affect public shooting ranges , which are common on federally owned properties .
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