The Buckeye Firearms Association announced on Mar. 30 that the House Committee on Agriculture has approved a version of the Farm Bill that includes a hunting ban through the addition of H.R.5017, known as the Greyhound Protection Act of 2025.
The inclusion of this provision is significant because it could impact hunters who use dogs and those involved in dog training or field trials, beyond its stated focus on commercial greyhound racing.
According to the association, “due to significant pressure from the animal-rights lobby, the Farm Bill just approved by the House Committee on Agriculture also includes a hunting ban.” The group said that Democrats and some Republican legislators inserted H.R.5017 into the bill by amendment, even though it had little chance of passing independently. The act would prohibit certain hounds in hunting and restrict using live animals for training or field trials.
“While H.R.5017 was completely portrayed by the sponsor and supporters as only focused on ending commercial greyhound racing, the language is much more broadly written and would ban the use of sight hounds in hunting,” according to Buckeye Firearms Association. The organization added that these changes were made without public debate: “Animal-rights extremists, with the help of members of the House Agriculture Committee, inserted the controversial language into the Farm Bill by voice vote … with no public debate or an opportunity for American hunters or houndsmen to be heard in the process.” Concerns about broader impacts were not shared with committee members before approval.
The legislative process is ongoing; next steps include review by the House Rules Committee and a vote by all representatives before consideration moves to the Senate. Hunters are encouraged to contact their elected officials regarding these provisions now that they have been made public.
Buckeye Firearms Association describes itself as advocating for individuals’ rights to own and use firearms for lawful activities such as self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation according to its official website. The group focuses its efforts within Ohio according to its official website and provides alerts about laws affecting gun rights according to its official website. It also offers updates about legislation related to gun rights along with training information according to its official website, functioning as a grassroots entity centered on firearm advocacy according to its official website.
