Originally posted by delaney:
This is a "win" in my opinion. Certainly there remains issues and concerns, of them the interstate transport of animals, but all in all, I think this should be considered as positive of an outcome as could be expected.

Originally posted by jjas:
So if this stays "as is", there will be 4 places to high fence "hunt" and (according to the article) approximately 400 deer farms that trade in deer, deer semen, urine, meat and antlers?

Senator Waltz,

I am writing to urge you to fight this canned hunting bill.

Rep. Eberhart has ramrodded this bill through the House and now it is before the Senate Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee with one of its majority Members being Brent Steele, one of the bill's co-sponsors. I assume it will make it out of Committee and into your hands. I implore you to take a very close look at this bill.

It purports to be a logical effort to regulate fenced deer hunting operations. In fact, it is the result of some heavy lobbying by a few (currently 4) small operations with deep pockets who have influenced Rep. Eberhart and others with thousands of dollars in contributions. As I hope you are aware, ethical hunters and the DNR as well as a variety of other groups have fought these operations for years. The Star did a very thorough series on their true nature and the risks they pose to our wildlife and the image of our hunting heritage. I hope you take the time to read this nationally recognized article by Ryan Sabalow. It can be found here: http://www.indystar.com/longform/news/investigations/2014/03/27/buck-fever-intro/6865031/

In fact, Deer Hunting Preserves are unethical and a deplorable exploitation of a natural resource. They spread disease and risk our wild deer populations. They have repeatedly been run by people who do things such as drug abnormally large buck deer for wealthy clients to "hunt" in small pens. While the bill has prohibitions on the worst of these acts, even these will not be enough to protect the Fair Chase Ethic when the deer are specifically bred for their antler size and confined to small pens until released into a larger pen to be shot.

As a hunter and conservationist, I am embarrassed by the very existence of these operations and hope that you do all you can to keep this Bill from moving forward.

Sincerely,

John Scifres
Indianapolis, IN 46227