U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (S. 1185), which would prohibit federal land management agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, from banning the use of traditional tackle and ammunition on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science and state fish and wildlife agencies. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.)
The bill ensures that anglers throughout the United States can continue to use lead tackle. It was introduced in response to a recent FWS rule that would ban traditional tackle on some national lands.
“The sportfishing industry is grateful to Sen. Daines for introducing the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023,” Glenn Hughes, American Sportfishing Association president, said in a statement. “Decisions about the tackle anglers are allowed to use must be based on science, not emotion. This bill will uphold state fish and wildlife agencies as the proper authorities to make science-based determinations around lead fishing tackle.”
