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Bill Regulating Fenced Deer Hunting Passes Committee

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Supporters of legislation that would regulate Indiana high-fenced deer hunting say the recent resolution of a decade-long court battle – negating any state authority over the industry – will give them traction this session. 

The state court system ultimately decided last year that Indiana has no authority under current law to regulate the hunting facilities. Rodney Bruce, the owner of one of Indiana’s high-fenced deer hunting preserves, where people can pay money to hunt farm-raised deer in an enclosed area, says that makes this year’s legislation critical.

“We’re out of options and it’s time to put this to bed," he says. "And I think everybody that has a dog in this fight has contributed to this resolution.”

The bill would allow an unlimited number of preserves, all under the authority of the Board of Animal Health.  It requires new reserves to be at least 100 acres, fences to be at least eight feet high, and mandates reporting of disease and escape. 

Groups, including the Humane Society and the Hoosier Environmental Council, say the regulations aren’t strict enough.  But sportsmen’s groups, such as the Indiana Deer Hunter’s Association, oppose the preserves entirely.  Association representative Doug Allman calls them an “affront” to Indiana’s hunting culture, which he says is about fair chase.

“Don’t call it hunting," he says. "That’s like a guy that hires a prostitute and says ‘This is true love.’”

A Senate committee approved the bill 8-1, with a Democrat the lone dissenting vote.  

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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