Coalition Petitions New York to Ban Lead Ammunition for Hunting

Animal welfare groups call for state to prohibit toxic metal that poisons wildlife and humans

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:04pm

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A coalition of over 20 organizations, led by the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action, has filed a formal petition with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to initiate rulemaking to prohibit the use of lead-based ammunition for sport hunting in the state. The groups assert that the scientific evidence on the harms of lead ammunition to wildlife, the environment, and public health is overwhelming.

Why it matters

Lead is a potent neurotoxin that has been banned from many products, but its use in hunting ammunition continues to pose a serious threat to wildlife, the environment, and human health. Scavenging animals like eagles, hawks, and vultures often ingest lead fragments from gut piles and carcasses, leading to acute poisoning and neurological damage. There are also concerns about lead contamination in donated venison distributed through food banks.

The details

The coalition's petition cites over 500 peer-reviewed studies documenting the mass poisoning of more than 130 species of wildlife due to lead ammunition. A 2022 study found that nearly half of eagles across 38 states, including New York, had bone lead levels consistent with chronic poisoning, with lead fragments in hunted animals identified as a primary driver. The groups argue that non-lead ammunition, such as copper and copper-alloy projectiles, is widely available and cost-competitive.

  • The petition was filed with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on March 12, 2026.

The players

Animal Wellness Action

An animal welfare organization that is part of the coalition petitioning the New York DEC.

Center for a Humane Economy

An animal welfare organization that is leading the coalition and filing the petition with the New York DEC.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

The state agency that the coalition is petitioning to initiate rulemaking to prohibit the use of lead-based ammunition for sport hunting.

Wayne Pacelle

The president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.

Scott Edwards

The Westchester County-based general counsel for Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.

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What they’re saying

“Lead is a potent neurotoxin, and it's been recognized as deadly to humans and other animals for more than 2,500 years. Lawmakers and regulators have banned its use in gasoline, paint, plumbing, and other pathways of exposure, but not yet for most forms of sport hunting. It's time to restrict hunters from dispersing this toxic metal across millions of acres of New York's landscapes, poisoning wildlife and putting themselves and their families at risk from ingesting of lead-infused wild-game meat.”

— Wayne Pacelle, President, Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy (Globe Newswire)

“Such programs attract very few participants, have proved to be unscalable, and are no substitute for comprehensive legal standards to compel the transition to widely available, affordable ammunition made from other elements and alloys that does not keep killing long after a round has left the barrel.”

— Scott Edwards, General Counsel, Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy (Globe Newswire)

What’s next

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will review the coalition's petition and decide whether to initiate rulemaking to prohibit the use of lead-based ammunition for sport hunting in the state. If the DEC declines to act on the petition or delays rulemaking, the coalition has stated they are prepared to pursue legal action to ensure the issue is addressed.

The takeaway

This petition highlights the growing scientific consensus on the dangers of lead ammunition and the need for state-level action to protect wildlife, the environment, and public health. The transition to non-lead alternatives is both feasible and necessary to address this longstanding issue.