House OKs high-fence hunting bill, but fate murky

A proposal aimed at legalizing five fenced deer-hunting preserves around the state faces an uncertain future even though it has been approved by the Indiana House.

Supporters of the bill say it is needed to resolve an eight-year-old lawsuit over attempts by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to shut down the existing preserves where hunters pay for a chance to shoot deer confined inside high fences.

The House voted 52-39 on Monday in favor of the bill despite arguments that the shooting of farm-raised deer inside the preserves isn't real hunting.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long has blocked previous attempts at legalizing the fenced preserves. He says allowing the five existing preserves could open the state up to more of them in the future.