Post by Woody Williams on Feb 6, 2006 10:41:49 GMT -5
Chesterton woman fights canned-hunt bill
Feb. 4, 2006
By Danielle Braff / Post-Tribune staff writer
A Chesterton woman is leading the charge against hunting enclosed
animals amid state legislation that would legalize the practice.
Commonly described as canned hunting, the practice is designed to
give hunters a better chance of hitting their target because the
animals are restricted to a fenced area.
Advocates say it's just another form of hunting. Opponents, like
Karen McKenna of Chesterton, say it's a money-making operation that
is not fair to the animals.
"People are outraged that retired zoo animals and rehabilitated
animals are being shot in canned areas," McKenna said, armed with
pamphlets, photos and documents describing what she called
a "horrible" practice. "They have no life," she said of the animals,
some of whom are bred specifically for the purpose of the hunt.
While there are no known canned hunting areas in Northwest Indiana,
there are some in other parts of the state.
Indiana has about 15 such businesses, but none are known to operate
Northwest Indiana.
The canned-hunt proposal, which passed the House this week and
advances to the Senate, would make it legal to hunt deer inside a
fence for another seven years.
However, no new preserves could be developed under an amendment
added Tuesday.
"This will allow these businesses to at least try and recoup their
expenses for setting up these operations," said the bill's author,
Rep. John Ulmer, R-Goshen.
While the businesses may try to recoup their expenses for the
operations, John Brigham of Valparaiso said the state may lose out
in the long run.
"It brings hunters from other states, so there's a little bit of
revenue in it," said Brigham, who hunts frequently in Porter County
and throughout the United States.
Brigham said he doesn't take part in canned hunting because he
prefers to hunt in the open, but understands the allure.
"For guys that want to hunt exotic species like African game without
going to Africa," he said, "you can go to a game farm to hunt some
of those species."
The state Department of Natural Resources moved to ban deer hunting
within enclosures following the high-profile trial of a Peru farmer
convicted last year of running illegal deer hunts on his preserve.
The ban would take effect following this year's legislative session,
giving lawmakers a chance to take action first.
To qualify for the extension under the bill, anyone operating a
hunting preserve must have had a game breeders permit and show that
deer or elk hunting was allowed between 2003 and 2005.
During the first five years of the extension, the preserve could buy
and release new deer, but during the last two years, only deer
raised on the property could be hunted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Danielle
Braff at 648-3079 or dbraff@post-trib.com.
Feb. 4, 2006
By Danielle Braff / Post-Tribune staff writer
A Chesterton woman is leading the charge against hunting enclosed
animals amid state legislation that would legalize the practice.
Commonly described as canned hunting, the practice is designed to
give hunters a better chance of hitting their target because the
animals are restricted to a fenced area.
Advocates say it's just another form of hunting. Opponents, like
Karen McKenna of Chesterton, say it's a money-making operation that
is not fair to the animals.
"People are outraged that retired zoo animals and rehabilitated
animals are being shot in canned areas," McKenna said, armed with
pamphlets, photos and documents describing what she called
a "horrible" practice. "They have no life," she said of the animals,
some of whom are bred specifically for the purpose of the hunt.
While there are no known canned hunting areas in Northwest Indiana,
there are some in other parts of the state.
Indiana has about 15 such businesses, but none are known to operate
Northwest Indiana.
The canned-hunt proposal, which passed the House this week and
advances to the Senate, would make it legal to hunt deer inside a
fence for another seven years.
However, no new preserves could be developed under an amendment
added Tuesday.
"This will allow these businesses to at least try and recoup their
expenses for setting up these operations," said the bill's author,
Rep. John Ulmer, R-Goshen.
While the businesses may try to recoup their expenses for the
operations, John Brigham of Valparaiso said the state may lose out
in the long run.
"It brings hunters from other states, so there's a little bit of
revenue in it," said Brigham, who hunts frequently in Porter County
and throughout the United States.
Brigham said he doesn't take part in canned hunting because he
prefers to hunt in the open, but understands the allure.
"For guys that want to hunt exotic species like African game without
going to Africa," he said, "you can go to a game farm to hunt some
of those species."
The state Department of Natural Resources moved to ban deer hunting
within enclosures following the high-profile trial of a Peru farmer
convicted last year of running illegal deer hunts on his preserve.
The ban would take effect following this year's legislative session,
giving lawmakers a chance to take action first.
To qualify for the extension under the bill, anyone operating a
hunting preserve must have had a game breeders permit and show that
deer or elk hunting was allowed between 2003 and 2005.
During the first five years of the extension, the preserve could buy
and release new deer, but during the last two years, only deer
raised on the property could be hunted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Danielle
Braff at 648-3079 or dbraff@post-trib.com.
