www.indystar.com/buckfever

Online Story available now print starts Sunday
Everything you wanted to know about the Deer Farming Industry and Disease. this should open a few eyes

Very well done piece of journalism.

Just a couple immediate responses I had after reading and watching the whole thing:

Those guys in HNF know what hunting is about.

Russ Bellar is an even bigger slimeball than I previously thought

well done, Indystar. Well done.

It's a long read what with the videos but well worth the effort. Good job by Doug and Jerry and Ryan Sabalow who wrote it all.

Jack

Well Done Indy Star....hats off to all involed

If I take my personal feelings and emotion out of the assessment, I believe the take away is one thing and one thing only. Money. When I say money, I don't even mean the money that the operating are making. The money that is important, the message that is important, is the lobbying money. Forget about everything else because at the end of day political influence, and usually outcome, is about money. The average hunter won't give $10 to a cause. So, in the end, money will win out.

Whether I like or dislike fenced hunting and the risk of disease and how the operators justify it, it is all meaningless unless I am willing to do something about it. That something has to be money driven, lobbying driven. It's not belonging to a "do gooder" organization because as good as those organizations are (and they are!), they are not going to be effective over the long haul when it comes to the lobbying money that is being thrown around by this industry. Actually, if I were in the industry I would welcome additional rules and even admit that its not really fair chase and such because it appears that many of the people who use these places aren't really interested in fair chase anyhow and they'd use them regardless of what its called.

Bottom line fenced hunting sucks. Scratch the word hunting.. its just killing . But I've said it before

B&C releases another game farm statement. http://bit.ly/1jZjgpG

I've know Russ since I was a little kid. He stayed at our house. I remember when Russ come up from Kentucky, and didn't have a pot to pizz in. He'd still gave you the shirt off his back. He worked is butt off, and done well well for himself building huge hog confinements. He didn't have anything better to do with his money than raising deer. Well, you all know the rest of the story with Russ. Saddens me to see what money has turned him into……..

This is going "National" as a news story, many states are going to be influenced by this report. The "deer farming" industry has been dealt a serious blow.

If people have ever had a flagship report done in favor of the "North American Wildlife Model" this article supports that!


The Indy Star article has set the table for sportsmen to turn back the "killing pen" and "deer farming" industry, now it is our turn to step up.


Forward this article to YOUR State Reps today, then ask for response..........


To wait until the next legislative session is a waste of time.........

Well done Doug Allmon!

Doug has been the lead person for over a decade for the IDHA on high fence hunting. He has sacrificed time with job and family to promote fair chase hunting.

Doug we thank you!!!!

http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup

Make yourselves heard gentlemen.

Credit should go to Ryan and the Star though. A year and a half in the making and over a 100 interviews I was told. I was not sure how the story would unfold. I know what the industry says and the influence and money they have spent to lobby. I also know that in terms of wildlife management, whether it be the influence of the legislature or lack of balls, State and Federal agencies as well as academia have let down sportsmen and the public in their failure to stand up and protect the North American model and wildlife. They have failed to do the job they were paid to do. Failed miserably to have the insight to keep wildlife wild and healthy. No guts.

Wow, one heck of a report....I hope this is a direct kick in the head to these operations.... it is really sad what these critters have become....

Just saw it, and will have to take some time later to go through the whole thing. But I guess my question is.... where has the Star been the last 10+ years that we were doing the annual dance in the legislature fighting this crap? Better late than never I guess.

A thought occurs to me... would be prudent to download copies of this thing, as well as post the link to the story on your facebook or twitter feed so as many people as we can get to see this as possible. My fear here is that the powers that be might put pressure on the Star to pull the story, or file an injunction to stop the printed copy. In any event, spread the word in your social media sites and maybe this will be the match that lights the final fire to get rid of these outfits.

Again great effort here by all involved.. hope this will help stop this crap!

Hi folks, I appreciate the kind words about our Buck Fever project. I ask that instead of posting the whole series on other websites as the one commenter suggests, you only post short summaries of the stories and links back to us. This helps keep readers heading to our site and encourages the bean-counter types to continue to fund our investigative journalism. I can assure you, the stories are going to stay live on our site indefinitely.

Thanks and take care.

Ryan Sabalow
Indianapolis Star

thanks Ryan......great job!

thanks Ryan......great job!

I know Russ Bellar through the coon hound world and can tell you there is no one in our sport that has done more for more young people than him. I have been to his facility several times-not for deer hunting, but for a coon hound training program he used to run. The facility is clean and massive. I belong to an organization called Hoosier tree dog alliance. We have a yearly banquet and the last 2 years it has been at the Peru coon club, which Russ basically built. Both years he has bought up probably 2/3 of the auction items, then at the end of the auction he picked out the kids in the crowd and gave all the items he just bought to them! Agree or disagree with his beliefs about deer as marketable stock, he is NOT a slime ball!

Thanks Ryan.

I will do this. Great work!

I do think that in many situations the tone and tenor of that activity on these farms has changed from what once seemed like an outright argument that it was hunting to one now that it is more so simply killing. At least in the smaller facilities. Clearly, there seems to be more forthrightness from the operators then there used to be. Many businesses finesse the "story" and often use the "they can't prove the disease issue" to try to diminish the potential negative. In that sense, from a business perspective, I don't really see the message from the operators any different from BP or other oil companies or utilities or industries that damage the environment but claim that it just isn't so. The issue of whether this is an acceptable societal activity is where it will eventually be decided. It won't be hunters but instead non hunters to influence the outcome. Just like the livestock operators pushing the bill here in Indiana to make it illegal for secretive filming of their properties because they don't want public opinion influenced from filming of bad situations in the operating to influence the general public.

You talking about the same Bellar that went to prison on 38 Federal charges and close friend to Friend the House Rep ?? if so did he Quit all that stuff??

I am sure the coon club really missed him those 9 months he spent in federal prison.

That $575,000 fine in wildlife violations (which he pled guilty to) he paid also, was probably just a drop in the bucket for a high roller like him. I hope it did not cut into what he spent at your auctions.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 76chevy:
[QB] I am sure the coon club really missed him those 9 months he spent in federal prison.

That $575,000 fine in wildlife violations (which he pled guilty to) he paid also, was probably just a drop in the bucket for a high roller like him. I hope it did not cut into what he spent at your auctions.
I think U missed my point completly, I was pointing out just a very few things that I know this man has done for youth hunters. Most of us have done something in our lives we could have been put in jail for. Russ did the crime, paid his court ordered debt to society and got out and continued to be a productive member of society as well as help others and now some self rightous person who I guarantee has never supported fellow hunters like he has wants to label him a slime ball-sorry, but not without me makeing my case against that sterotype.

Better to debate the issue then address any one person involved on either side of the issue.

Your either part of the Promblem or part of the solution !!!! You can't be both

Russ was part of the problem.... And still maybe!!

Dave we have debated this issue for years.. time to just stick a fork in it.

This is the political contributions form that the Indiana Derr and Elk farmers filed in 2013. They have a significant bank ($25k+) going into this upcoming election. Watch and see the 2014 form as they contributed to almost every member of the House Natural Resources Committee in 2012. Follow the money and then decide how you are going to fight this:

https://campaignfinance.in.gov/INCF/TempDocs/df84d6fb-bc83-46b3-8c3d-1d65cfb4e33a.pdf

Jack

Most AMISH

Actually this one is better...it shows contributions for the 2012 session. Note the folks receiving the money:

http://campaignfinance.in.gov/Publi...earchType=&CandidateFirstNameSearchType=

They are putting their money into getting this passed. Sportsmen need to wake up and do the same.

Jack

Thank you Jack for the comment on sportsmen needing to do the same. But, the discussion about how to address this further probably needs to be private instead of on the internet.

I disagree Dave. We need to make it as public as possible. If nothing else it makes them squirm a bit. Besides they have a 2 year jump on us and whose going to be in the "private discussion"? You? Doug? Me? Joe?

Jack

The story is great in the public but the discussion is best had with as many who wish to be involved in private in my opinion. It takes the emotion and personalization out of it.

read all four Chapters:
http://www.indystar.com/longform/news/investigations/2014/03/27/buck-fever-chapter-one/6865283/
http://www.indystar.com/longform/news/investigations/2014/03/27/buck-fever-chapter-two/6867301/
http://www.indystar.com/longform/news/investigations/2014/03/27/buck-fever-chapter-three/6865399/
http://www.indystar.com/longform/news/investigations/2014/03/27/buck-fever-chapter-four/6867811/

The article is getting some commentary on USA from people who are posting comments.

Ryan, This production is the best one Ive ever seen and I hope it wins you an award(s). Absolutely fantastic! h.h.

It needs to get out to more hunting sites..Bowsite, Archerytalk, etc......someone with better computer skills than myself....the more who see this great report the better..... I'm sure the highfence clowns are quite pissed about now....As for Bellar, anyone who did what he did, going back to the Jimmy Houston debacle, is NOT a good guy....what I think of him cannot be printed here.....

USA Today picked it up...getting big time exposure now. Time to get the word out on some national sites like Jeff said....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ers-sacrifice-ethics-for-profit/6938465/

Wow...awesome stuff!