Muscatine

As previously reported, Iowa’s Natural Resources Commission recently announced its intent to ban hunters’ use of lead shot on numerous state and federal wildlife areas across Iowa.  Yesterday, Governor Terry Branstad took a strong stand for hunters’ rights by rejecting this politically-motivated proposed rule change.

It's motivated by those who know lead is poisonous and interferes with nerve function, in animals and humans.   And it is ingested by wild life and passed up the food chain to humans.

The Governor exercised his authority pursuant to a recently adopted executive order when he took this decisive step to save hunters from an exhaustive fight over a scientifically unfounded and unnecessary rule change. If imposed, this ban would have had a devastating impact on sportsmen throughout the Hawkeye state.

According to the Commission, its purpose in proposing this ban was to “begin limiting the use of lead for all hunting and fishing on all public areas.”  The proposed ban would have also designated three wildlife areas as completely “lead free,” including rifle ammunition and fishing tackle.  The proposed ban did not mention any research showing that the use of traditional ammunition is having a negative impact on the state’s wildlife populations.

While this proposal is no longer being considered, thank you to all who opposed this proposed ban during the public comment period.  Please take a moment to thank Governor Branstad for his continued support of our cherished hunting heritage.  Without true leaders like him, politics would be allowed to prevail over the scientific management that has allowed wildlife to flourish throughout our country.

Politics did prevail over science

Please contact Governor Bradstad today and thank him for rejecting this unnecessary anti-hunting proposal.  To contact the Governor, please click here.