Well, That Plan’s Shot

Last year saw an uproar among hunters, sportsmen, and NRA members when Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) proposed a ban on lead-shot ammunition for hunting upland game birds and migratory birds on all of the state’s 72 wildlife management areas. Intended to make Montana’s law consistent with federal bans on lead-shot ammunition and to coordinate with certain lead-shot bans on tribal lands, the proposal was ultimately voted down 3-2 by FWP. And to really put a nail in the coffin, the 62nd Montana State Legislature recently passed a law prohibiting FWP from regulating hunting ammunition. Section 1, Paragraph 11 of HP 159 states, “The department may not regulate the use or possession of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition, including the chemical elements of ammunition used for hunting.”