The governor of the US state ofIndiana, Mike Pence, managed to put an end to a debate that lasted from eleven years, by signing a law that makes it legal in this part of the United States wild deer hunting. It therefore took more than a decade to resolve a dispute that involved several players. According to local media reports, currently there should be seven areas in which to find ungulates we are talking about, specifically the counties of Harrison, Blackford, Decatour, Miami, Whitley, Marshall and Kosciusko. In 2005 there were twelve operational structures, but the Department of Natural Resources decided to close them, partly due to concerns about possible infections and diseases that could be transmitted after killing.
The owners of the game reserves responded with a lawsuit motivated by the fact that the Department had no authority for such a decision. A month ago the heated dispute ended and the reserves and the owners were right. The main criticisms regarding this choice relate to ethics and there are even some hunters who fear that hunting could be a danger to the wild deer population, which contributes to Indiana's economy with about 200 million dollars every year.
Then there are those who spoke of hunting areas that are too small, with ungulates that would not have enough space. On the other hand there are the firm supporters of the law, passed in recent days by the Senate: for them the territorial limits are rather wide and hunting must be considered a genuine and useful experience. The local hunting industry can also benefit from a large and high number of breeding deer as a result the species would not be endangered, without forgetting that the new legislation could pave the way for new occupations.
As it stated by John Newsom, regional manager ofIndiana Farm Bureau, wild deer reproduce at the right pace and demanded by the market, just what is needed. Following the adverse decision to the Department of Natural Resources, wild deer hunting is managed and regulated by the Board of Animal Health of Indiana, the same one that deals with cattle breeding. With the new regulatory text, which will be effective immediately, game reserves must have a minimum size, 100 acri, that is about 40 hectares, while the fences must be at least high 8 feet (2 meters and 40).