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Thursday, March 24, 2005

Ind. Gov't. - Deer action shot down

Niki Kelly of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a story today that reports:

The new director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources blocked an attempt Wednesday to remove the DNR’s authority over captive deer, elk and other cervidae livestock operations.

Some conservation groups fear such a move would hinder the DNR’s ability to enforce hunting regulations on preserves that allow hunting of captive white-tailed deer behind a game-proof fence.

The House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee first adopted an amendment moving all regulation of deer, elk, moose, reindeer and caribou farms to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

The DNR would have had no authority under the amendment, which was offered by Howe Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman.

But after DNR Director Kyle Hupfer testified against the amendment, it was quicklyremoved. Hupfer said he was surprised his office was not contacted about the amendment beforehand, noting earlier cooperation from all sides of the issue on House Bill 1780, which died during the walkout by House Democrats.

“I am at a loss that the DNR was not consulted at all,” he said. * * *

Don Blinzinger, on behalf of the Indiana Deer Farmers Association, said the amendment is not about the 10 hunting preserves but about the 350 entities in the state that operate as deer farms, including selling their meat and other byproducts.

“Why is DNR not in this bill? Because they have no authority or responsibility to exert control over private property,” he said. “There is nothing the least bit sinister about this amendment. There is nothing the least bit underhanded about this amendment

“This draws a bright line between the 340 that farm as opposed to the 10 that do other things. I’m not the least bit interested in dealing with the other 10.”

Testimony in previous hearings has been that deer farms and canned-hunting preserves are intertwined because the farmers sell their deer to the hunting preserves.

Although Stutzman repeated several times that the change is needed to protect the health of the animals, Hupfer pointed out the State Board of Animal Health has been overseeing deer behind fences for years.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 24, 2005 10:32 AM
Posted to Indiana Government