Disgraced Anti-Hunting Activist Tries to Ban Traditional Ammunition in New York

Wayne Pacelle, former Humane Society head, is pushing a petition to restrict hunters' use of lead ammunition despite lack of scientific evidence

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:23am

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Wayne Pacelle, the disgraced former head of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), is now leading a campaign to ban the use of traditional lead ammunition for hunting in New York. Pacelle, who resigned from HSUS amid sexual harassment allegations, is making claims about the toxicity of lead ammunition that are not supported by scientific evidence. The petition he is pushing through his new organizations, the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action, is part of a broader effort to incrementally restrict and eventually eliminate hunting in the state.

Why it matters

This campaign by Pacelle and his anti-hunting groups is not actually about ammunition safety or wildlife conservation. It is an attempt to chip away at hunting traditions and redefine what is considered 'acceptable' hunting, with the ultimate goal of banning the practice entirely. Hunters and wildlife management professionals, not activist organizations, should be the ones setting policies based on sound science and data.

The details

Pacelle's groups are claiming that lead from ammunition is toxic and harms wildlife, but this is not supported by scientific evidence. A 2008 CDC study found no difference in blood-lead levels between hunters who consume wild game and the general public. Additionally, a 2022 Wildlife Society Bulletin report showed New York's bald eagle population has been expanding, with no evidence that lead from ammunition is harming the birds. Despite this, Pacelle's coalition is pressing the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to enact 'comprehensive legal standards' to phase out traditional lead ammunition.

  • In 2024, Pacelle's groups pushed a successful ballot measure in Colorado to ban mountain lion hunting.
  • Pacelle's current petition targeting New York was launched in April 2026.

The players

Wayne Pacelle

The disgraced former president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations. He is now leading campaigns through his new organizations, the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action, to restrict and eventually ban hunting.

Center for a Humane Economy

A non-profit organization founded by Wayne Pacelle that is pressing a petition to ban traditional lead ammunition for hunting in New York.

Animal Wellness Action

Another non-profit organization founded by Wayne Pacelle that is supporting the petition to ban traditional lead ammunition for hunting in New York.

New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC)

The state agency that Pacelle's groups are targeting with their petition to ban traditional lead ammunition for hunting in New York.

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What they’re saying

“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 of ingesting lead-infused wild-game meat.”

— Wayne Pacelle, Founder, Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action

What’s next

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation will need to decide whether to accept or reject the petition from Pacelle's groups to ban traditional lead ammunition for hunting in the state.

The takeaway

This campaign by the disgraced former Humane Society leader Wayne Pacelle is not about public health or wildlife conservation. It is part of a broader effort by anti-hunting groups to incrementally restrict and eventually eliminate hunting in New York and across the country, despite a lack of scientific evidence to support their claims.