Daines, Cassidy: Government shouldn’t tell us how to hunt or fish

Following recent action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal land, U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) joined 20 of their Republican colleagues to offer legislation that would prohibit the implementation of any such further rules.

Sen. Daines on Sept. 22 sponsored the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2022, S. 4940, which would stop federal agencies from banning the use of traditional ammo or tackle on public lands without approval from scientific institutions and state wildlife agencies, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“Sportsmen are the original conservationists and play an important role in wildlife management — the last thing we should do is limit their access to public lands by implementing a blanket ban on traditional ammo and tackle,” Sen. Daines said. “Not only would this affect our state agencies’ revenue but it’s also unfair to sportsmen who can’t access or afford lead alternatives and depend on hunting and fishing.”

Among the 21 other lawmakers who joined Sen. Cassiday as an original cosponsor of S. 4940 were U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Thune (R-SD), John Hoeven (R-ND), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Todd Young (R-IN).

“Every Louisianan knows how important outdoor recreation and conservation is to our state’s way of life,” said Sen. Cassidy. “A federal bureaucrat who has never cast a line or shot a rifle has no place telling Louisiana sportsmen how they can hunt and fish.”

Additionally, under S. 4940, federal agencies would not be able to issue regulations related to the level of lead in ammo or tackle that would be used on federal land or water, according to the text of the bill.

“Outdoor recreation is part of our Montana way of life — I’ll keep fighting to protect our hunting and fishing legacy and ensuring these decisions are guided by science, not politics,” Sen. Daines added.

The legislation is supported by numerous organizations, including the National Rifle Association, the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, the American Sportfishing Association, the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas.