The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) announced in large block letters on page nine of the 2015 Big Game Digest that non-lead ammunition will be required for all hunting on DFW property and for all bighorn sheep hunters beginning this year.

This may come as a shock to those who thought they had until 2019 to phase out lead bullets from their arsenal.

When Governor Jerry Brown signed the lead ammo ban in 2013, it was anticipated that regulations could be in effect as early as 2015 though language in the ban said that officials had until 2019 to phase in the approved measure. While supporters of the ban are happy, early adoption of this ban could negatively impact hunting within the state and cause a major decline in hunter recruitment for future generations.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) recently released a report that summarized the results of an independent survey regarding California hunters and the lead ammo ban. The report found that higher ammunition prices will drive 36 percent of California hunters to stop hunting or reduce their overall participation, according to the report. Furthermore, 13 percent of California hunters said they would stop hunting due to higher ammunition prices, 10 percent were unsure if they would continue to hunt, and 23 percent said they would likely hunt less due to the lead bullet ban.