It becomes increasingly apparent with each passing day that anti-hunters will do whatever it takes to stop all hunting everywhere and forever. Their efforts are relentless and will only increase over time. They are definitely in it for the long haul. Examples of their efforts are cropping up all across the nation, and while one might think that it is just happening elsewhere, it is only a matter of time until similar efforts are showing up at our own doorsteps.

Just last summer, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources instated an order prohibiting the use of traditional lead-based ammunition in all state Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs) that allow hunting. The ban includes several state parks and other SNAs holding special hunting events. The DNR’s decision was made without any input from any stakeholders, such as hunters and shooters. Thus, no alternative viewpoints were considered.

In 2023, New York Assembly Bill 2917 and New York Senate Bill 4099 were introduced that would prohibit competitions or contests in which certain animals are harvested. These types of activities, which are legal and regulated hunting, are typically directed toward coyotes — similar to the wintertime coyote hunting contests held across Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, at the end of summer last year, a proposed phase-out of lead ammunition use was canceled at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia. Immediately, three anti-hunting organizations — The National Wildlife Refuge Association, Friends of Blackwater, and the Sierra Club began an effort to seek legal recourse to keep the proposed phase-out in place.

Add to that the ever-expanding list of new laws in the state of California that are a direct attack on hunting, shooting, and gun ownership. If you dismiss this anti-hunting activity because you believe it will never happen here — think again!

Anti-hunting efforts are being felt across the board, and there is no limit to the attempts that are made to make hunting more expensive and complicated — all in an effort over time to persuade hunters that hunting has simply become too expensive of a pursuit and slowly reduce the number of active hunters. Anti-hunting groups and individuals play the long game, chipping away bit by bit, doing whatever they can to throw a monkey wrench into the sport and stop hunting altogether. Every legal battle they win and every bit of anti-hunting legislation they can pass brings them one step closer to their end goal — the end of hunting as we know and enjoy it.

The Biden administration has appointed anti-hunters to significant government positions to adversely affect hunting and weaken the strong social base occupied by hunters.

As the number of hunters dwindles, so does the power and influence hunters have in assuring hunting for years to come and for future generations as well.

There are continual efforts to close vast acreage of public land to hunting and to impose restrictive regulations, especially on ammunition — such as the phase-out of lead ammunition. The banning of lead ammunition and lead shot is all presented under the false premonition that doing so will save the planet!

Even anglers are being targeted, as efforts are being made to ban the use of lead for fishing tackle as well.

The end goal is to drive up the costs for hunters and anglers, which may not drastically affect those currently pursuing their passions but will (hopefully for the ‘antis’) eventually price would-be hunters from becoming hunters.

Meanwhile, hunters, some legislators, and numerous hunting and conservation organizations are fighting back. There are several well-established and highly active organizations that include in their mission statements the desire to promote and protect our hunting heritage. The National Wild Turkey Foundation, the National Rifle Association, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Safari Club International, Pheasants Forever, the Ruffed Grouse Society and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are all working on our behalf to protect our hunting heritage for generations to come.

What can you, as an individual hunter, do? Well, perhaps it is time to consider “Stepping Up to the Plate.” Look over the list above to find one or more organizations to join and support. Get involved in their mission and in their fundraising efforts. Get in touch with your elected officials and pay attention to proposed and upcoming legislation that positively or negatively affects your hunting heritage. Finally, make sure that you project a positive image as a hunter. Like most things, the universal support of hunting can be accurately imagined with a bell curve. There are strong supporters on the one end and anti-hunters on the other end, with the majority of the population right in the middle. We don’t need to try to influence those who are active hunters, and we won’t change the minds of anti-hunters, so we need to focus our attention on educating the majority in the middle. Once aware of the positive influence hunters have on the conservation and protection of wildlife, they will be more apt to oppose the efforts of the anti-hunters.