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Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Ind. Law - Canned deer hunting preserves would continue under House amendments

Existing high-fence deer hunting preserves would be allowed to continue operations under amendments to HB 1349 passed in the House yesterday, according to newspaper reports today. Technically, they would be allowed to operate for just seven more years, but practically that means they would be effectively guaranteed a minimum of seven more years operation.

The Louisville Courier Journal's Lesley Stedman Weidenbener writes:

The House approved an amendment yesterday that would stop new high-fence deer hunting preserves from opening and let existing preserves operate for just seven more years.

The amendment was added to House Bill 1349, which in its original form would have legalized fenced hunting despite a state agency's decision last year to end the practice.

But support was sketchy for total legalization of the hunting, which now takes place on as many as 15 preserves across the state. So the bill's author, Rep. John Ulmer, R-Goshen, offered to restrict it.

"These preserves had been legal in Indiana for a number of years" before the Department of Natural Resources reinterpreted existing state law, Ulmer told his colleagues. "This will allow these businesses to at least try and recoup their expenses for setting up these operations."

The amendment won votes from those who abhor fenced hunting and want to see it eventually eliminated, as well as those who support it and wanted some opportunity let existing operations continue for a few years.

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette's Niki Kelly reports:
[N]egotiations have continued on the bill, including DNR Director Kyle Hupfer heavily lobbying lawmakers in the Statehouse halls. As a result, the author of the bill – Rep. John Ulmer, R-Goshen – said compromise language had been reached that would allow existing preserves to continue until 2013 before all would be shut down.

To be eligible, a facility must have had a game breeder’s permit as well as documentation showing the owner has allowed deer or elk hunting at the facility between 2003 and 2005.

During the first five years of the extension, the preserve would be allowed to purchase and release new deer into the acreage but during the last two years can hunt only deer raised on its own property.

Weapons limitations related to the hunting of whitetail deer would apply to any animal on a licensed hunting facility, according to the amended legislation. Also, whitetail deer would be subject to current hunting limits but could be hunted year-round.

Even those against canned hunting in principle were supportive of the amendment because it limits the number of preserves that could exist in the future.
Rep. Dale Grubb, D-Covington, said not placing the amendment in the bill would mean a risk that the facilities would be legal forever.

“This puts some constraints so they cannot expand,” he said. “Regardless of your position on the underlying bill the amendment I believe softens it.”

Access HB 1349 here. The ILB has had many past entries on deer hunting preserves.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 1, 2006 07:34 AM
Posted to Environment | Indiana Government | Indiana Law