March 17, 2026

Mission, KS – Hunter Nation issued a powerful endorsement of H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act. The organization praised the U.S. House leadership for prioritizing this critical legislation, which is expected to pass this week, and called for its immediate passage to defend America’s hunters, anglers, and the conservation funding model they support.

H.R. 556 prevents the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture from enacting blanket bans on traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands. The bill establishes a "dual-lock" protection, requiring any proposed ban to be justified by site-specific, peer-reviewed science showing lead is the primary cause of a specific wildlife population decline and, crucially, securing the formal approval of the respective state’s fish and wildlife agency.

Keith Mark, Founder and President of Hunter Nation, issued a strong statement in support of the bill:

"H.R. 556 is a line in the sand against the relentless, politically motivated attacks on our heritage. For too long, we’ve watched Washington bureaucrats and radical anti-hunting groups use backroom ‘sue and settle’ deals to price law-abiding hunters and anglers out of the outdoors. This bill puts a stop to it. It restores the authority of states to manage their own wildlife and ensures that the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation—funded by hunters—is protected for generations to come. We stand with Representative Wittman and the bill’s cosponsors in defending the rights of every American who cherishes our hunting and fishing traditions."

The legislation directly safeguards the Pittman-Robertson Act, which generates over a billion dollars annually for wildlife conservation through an excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Opponents of traditional ammunition seek to drive up costs for sportsmen and women, which would cripple this vital funding source.

Ted Nugent, Hunter Nation’s National Spokesperson, added his voice to the call for action:

"This is about freedom, period. H.R. 556 is a legislative shield against anti-American policies that aim to disarm and dismantle the hunting lifestyle piece by piece. Banning the ammo that 95% of hunters use isn’t about science; it’s about control and ending hunting. We, the hunters of America, are the true conservationists, and we will not stand by while federal agencies try to regulate us out of existence. We applaud the House for fighting back, and we urge every freedom-loving American to demand the Senate pass this bill without delay."

About Hunter Nation

Hunter Nation is the nation’s leading grassroots hunting advocacy organization that stands for the traditional values of God, Family, Country, Hunting and the Constitution. Hunter Nation works to promote science-based conservation and access to habitat, while preserving our country’s hunting heritage. It was founded and is based in Mission, Kansas.

 

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