House Bill 741 and Senate Bill 634 would phase out the use of lead ammunition for hunting within the next five years. There are no exceptions: hunters will simply have to source and use non-lead ammunition or face criminal penalties. Safari Club International opposes these bills and all emotionally based management proposals that fly in the face of science-based decisions from state and federal wildlife professionals.

The result of prohibiting lead ammunition would likely be a decline in hunter recruitment and participation due to the high cost and low availability of non-lead ammo. This would likely also result in declines in conservation funding and hunting’s role as a management tool. The purported benefits from mandated lead phase-out for all hunting across the entire state are limited, especially given limited science showing that hunting with lead ammo in Maryland has harmed any wildlife.

SCI supports educational and voluntary programs whereby hunters are educated and incentivized to switch to non-lead ammunition. Blanket bans on lead ammunition are not required by the science on lead ammunition exposure, and any such bans are likely to have more negative impacts than positive ones.

Please contact the members of the Maryland legislature in opposition to House Bill 741 and Senate Bill 634.