I have been reading with interest all the letters to the editor regarding the hunting preserve near Pierceton.

First of all, let me say that I can understand a certain level of angst among neighbors of a hunting preserve.

But I keep seeing things written that appear to be misleading at best and just plain wrong at worst.

First of all, the neighbors keep talking about 40 acres of fenced land. That is a bold mischaracterization.

Ken McIntosh, operator of Midwest Woodlots, owns 47 acres within the fenced area. He has long-term leases on another 114 acres, so the total fenced area is roughly 161 acres.

McIntosh also leases an additional 3,000 acres for free range hunting.

It is important to note that before McIntosh began his operation, much of that land was hunted by a number of private individuals.

Opponents of the operation also say that you can use any caliber of gun at any time to hunt elk on the preserve because elk is a non-native species.

Well, that's half true.

Since elk is a non-native species, it is true that there is no posted season or license required.

But the gun caliber thing is total bunk.

Frankly, the first time I read that, intuition told me that the state of Indiana wouldn't allow somebody to use a .460 Weatherby to hunt elk in Pierceton, or anywhere else in the state for that matter.

(The .460 Weatherby, loaded with a 500 grain round nose/expanding bullet will achieve a velocity of 2,301 feet per second and deliver 5,877 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards. A very impressive cartridge - if you're trying to stop a charging elephant.)

Acting on this intuition, I called Lt. John Sullivan, District 1 commander for the Department of Natural Resources.

He pointed me to the applicable law.

Here's IC 14-22-32-2 - Game Bird and exotic mammal regulation - direct from the Indiana Code.

Prohibitions

Sec. 2. A person may not do any of the following:

(1) Offer a game bird or an exotic mammal for hunting, trapping, or chasing by a person using a weapon or device that is not a shotgun, muzzle loading gun, handgun or bow and arrow.

(2) Hunt, trap or chase a game bird or exotic mammal with a weapon or device that is not a shotgun, muzzle loading gun, handgun, or bow and arrow.

By the way, according to IC 14-8-2-87 states that an "Exotic mammal," for purposes of IC 14-22, means a species that is "not native to Indiana."

What that means is anybody hunting at Midwest Woodlots is prohibited by law from using any weapon other than those used by your average whitetail deer hunter.

No elephant guns or other high-caliber rifles can be used. Frankly, no rifles at all can be used, not even a .22.

As an aside, Sullivan, who describes himself as neutral on the issue of hunting preserves, said he has spoken to McIntosh several times.

"He (McIntosh) never makes a move without consulting us," Sullivan said. "He's really trying to do this right. He doesn't want to step out of bounds."

And when our reporter talked to McIntosh, he came across as being pretty responsible.

It seems as if he is taking steps to ensure safety.

If you think about it, the last thing he would want is for a stray slug to wind up in a neighbor's garage wall.

He has some pretty specific rules that must be followed anywhere on the preserve - inside or outside the fence.

Several areas are completely off limits or are designated for archery only - no guns.

McIntosh says there has never been anyone with a gun on the property without being accompanied by him or a guide.

Also, and I think this is key, hunters are not allowed to walk the property with a loaded gun.

He takes hunters to a tree stand where they must remain until the hunt is over or until he returns. No hunting is allowed without being in a stand or without a guide.

The thing about shooting from a tree stand is that you are shooting down toward the ground. There is virtually no chance of errant slugs leaving the preserve.

Before McIntosh, when the land was unmanaged and unsupervised, hunters probably walked around and occasionally fired flat with the terrain. That situation makes it more likely - yet still highly improbable - that a slug could find its way through the woods and onto a neighbor's property.

Furthermore, there have been a lot fewer shots fired since McIntosh took over. The majority of his customers are archers.

And as for the concept of a hunting preserve, I guess I would have to go on record as saying that I am not a fan.

Before I moved to Warsaw I lived in Logansport. I used to hunt deer with a couple buddies in archery and shotgun season. I get hunting.

But hunting in a preserve seems, somehow, like it's giving an unfair advantage to the hunter.

But whether I agree with the concept or not, I think that as long as a property owner is following all applicable laws and is acting responsibly, he should be allowed to pursue his livelihood.

While I don't know any of these people personally, I get the sense they are not mean or unreasonable. I think they're good people who have a disagreement.

(We had a story not long ago about McIntosh pulling a woman from her burning home. Officials say he saved her life.)

I know none of this will satisfy the neighbors. But I think it would be nice if perhaps they and McIntosh could sit down over a cup of coffee and hash things out without letting emotion and exaggeration take over.

Maybe there could be some give and take.

If they decide to meet, they should give me a call. I'll moderate and buy the coffee. [[In-content Ad]]