Safari Club International (SCI) and the Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation filed a motion to intervene in support of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council's well-reasoned denial of a petition seeking to ban use of traditional lead ammunition for hunting in the Garden State.
Petitioners Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action—founded by former Humane Society CEO Wayne Pacelle—called for a broad ban on use of traditional ammunition for hunting. Petitioners alleged that traditional ammunition threatens wildlife, public health, and the environment. However, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council rejected the petition, finding that it lacked sufficient scientific support and failed to justify the proposed regulatory changes.
SCI's motion to intervene explains that the petitioners did not present credible scientific evidence demonstrating population-level harm to wildlife or documented impacts to habitat or human health resulting from the use of traditional ammunition. In contrast, the Council's decision reflects careful consideration of available science, practical realities, and the state's wildlife management needs. SCI's motion also highlights that a mandatory ban on traditional ammunition would have significant adverse consequences for hunters and wildlife conservation in New Jersey, including: reduced access to effective and affordable ammunition, decreased hunter participation, and diminished capacity to manage abundant wildlife populations, including white-tailed deer and black bears.
"New Jersey's Fish and Game Council made the right decision based on sound science and practical conservation considerations," said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. "The petition is not supported by credible evidence and would undermine the role of regulated hunting in wildlife management. SCI is seeking to intervene to ensure the Court fully understands these deficiencies and the real-world consequences of such a ban."
About Safari Club International: Safari Club International is a global leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. Through advocacy, litigation, and education, SCI fights to promote the sustainable use of wildlife resources and to defend the rights of hunters.