The Fish and Wildlife Service will test use of the carrot instead of the stick as a way to reduce the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on national wildlife refuges.
In what the agency describes as a “voluntary, incentive-based” pilot program, seven wildlife refuges have been selected for participation this fall. Hunters at the selected refuges will be able to get rebates in exchange for using lead-free ammo. The program will supply prepaid credit cards for reimbursement of the cost of lead-free ammunition with proof of purchase.
“The Service is committed to providing access to National Wildlife Refuges and also to minimizing the impacts to wildlife from lead exposure,” FWS Director Martha Williams said in a statement, adding that “this pilot program and the lessons learned will be critically important in determining our best approach to managing lead use by outdoor recreationists on refuge lands and waters.”
The pilot program also includes what the agency calls “refuge-specific economic incentives” as well as a monitoring component that will assess impacts and derive lessons that might be applied at additional refuges.
