Hunting And Outdoor Sports
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Expands Lead-Free Ammo Incentive Program Nationwide
Hunters offered rebates for switching to non-lead ammunition at 13 national wildlife refuges
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has announced a major expansion of its Voluntary Lead-Free Hunting Ammunition Incentive Program for the 20252026 hunting season. Building on a successful pilot effort launched in 2024, the initiative now includes 25 hunting seasons across 13 national wildlife refuges in 11 states. The program seeks to encourage hunters to voluntarily adopt lead-free ammunition, reducing risks of lead poisoning in scavenging wildlife species while maintaining access to high-quality hunting opportunities on public lands. The program expansion comes after surveys showed that hunters are more likely to use lead-free ammunition when cost barriers are reduced through incentives. USFWS Director Brian Nesvik emphasized that the program is designed to be collaborative, stating that the goal is to support hunters while also safeguarding the long-term health of wildlife populations. Lead fragments from traditional ammunition have long been a concern for biologists because they can be ingested by eagles, hawks, and other raptors feeding on gut piles left in the field. Participating hunters can receive rebates in the form of prepaid debit cards up to $50 per box of rifle ammunition and $25 per box of shotgun or muzzleloader ammunition, for up to two boxes once they provide proof of purchase and verify participation at eligible refuges. This reimbursement program lowers the cost of trying alternatives like copper bullets, solid copper expanding projectiles, or bismuth shot, which often carry a higher price tag than traditional lead ammunition. The selected refuges represent a diverse cross-section of hunting opportunities across the country, from deer and spring turkey hunts at Blackwater NWR in Maryland to elk hunting at Camas NWR in Idaho, and multi-species opportunities at Canaan Valley NWR in West Virginia. This broad rollout reflects the Services strategy to gather data from different ecosystems and hunter demographics. The information collected during the 20252026 season will help guide future decisions about whether to expand or adjust the program further. Importantly, the USFWS has clarified that the program is strictly voluntary and does not constitute a lead ammunition ban. Instead, it uses financial incentives and outreach to encourage hunters to experiment with non-lead options. The Service is also engaged in a transparent evaluation of the long-term role of lead on federal lands, and feedback from participants will inform potential policy recommendations in the future. The program aligns with recommendations from the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council, a federal advisory committee representing state agencies, NGOs, and industry partners. By working collaboratively, the Service hopes to avoid unnecessary conflict while still addressing a key conservation issue. Hunters are encouraged to take part not only for the financial savings but to contribute data that will help shape science-based management of public lands.