INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Several hunter and wildlife advocacy groups are keeping up their opposition to legalizing high-fenced deer-hunting preserves around Indiana. 

The House Na-tural Resources Committee heard a couple hours of testimony on Jan. 26 about a bill for licensing the preserves where farm-raised deer could be hunted.

A handful of such preserves have operated without state approval for several years and previous attempts in the Legislature to legalize them have failed to win approval. Gary Jacobson of the Indiana Deer and Elk Farmers Association supports the bill, saying it would help Indiana’s nearly 400 deer farms have buyers for their animals.

Opponents call the preserves “canned hunting” and say they increase the risk of spreading diseases to the state’s wild deer.

The committee won’t vote on the proposal until at least next week.