[Scottsdale, Ariz.] – The Biden Administration published its annual rules this week and included a ban on lead ammunition and fishing tackle in national wildlife refuges – a move that would cut off the use of popular hunting cartridges and strike a significant blow to hunting on federal public lands. International Order of T. Roosevelt (IOTR) and T. Roosevelt Action Executive Director Luke Hilgemann issued the following statement blasting the decision.

“The Biden Administration’s war on American sportsmen continues. This move effectively bans hunting by making accessible ammunition off-limits for American hunters on federal lands. States like Florida, which are rapidly amending their constitution to protect the right to fish and hunt, are now facing new attacks at the federal level that will make the sport less accessible on thousands of acres of open land.

“Increasingly, anti-hunting forces are taking action to ban hunting any way that they can. In Oregon, efforts are underway yet again to criminalize hunting and fishing after previous efforts fell short. The Biden Administration’s action proves that the anti-hunting opposition has gone mainstream and that hunters and anglers can expect attacks like these to escalate in future years. IOTR and T. Roosevelt Action will continue to organize against these attacks by pushing all states to adopt a constitutional right to hunt and fish.”

IOTR is leading the fight against an anti-hunting agenda. The organization launched a six-figure advertising campaign in Florida, Ohio, Iowa, and South Dakota to educate hunters about their vulnerable rights. Florida’s Legislature passed a resolution to amend their state constitution to protect the right to fish and hunt. That resolution heads to Florida voters for ratification during the Fall 2024 election.

The mission follows efforts from forces around the country to ban hunting as we know it. In 2020, Oregon activists fell just shy of the required signatures to send a criminal ban on hunting and fishing to the ballot for voters. Washington and New Mexico are also considering similar attacks on our hunting way of life.