The owner of Minnesota's only big game shooting preserve says the first season is a success. People pay thousands of dollars to shoot elk, bison and other big game on the farm near Detroit Lakes. Big game shooting preserves are illegal in Minnesota. But not on the White Earth Reservation. And attempts are being made to expand such game reserves across the state.

	Joe Thompson looks over his shooting preserve near Detroit Lakes, on the White Earth Reservation. It's the only big game shooting preserve in Minnesota, and it's only legal because it's on the reservation. (MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson)

Joe Thompson says it's a dream come true. He's been building fences for the past four years. Now he has about 160 wooded, swampy acres stocked with a variety of exotic big game.

A flock of bighorn sheep come up to the fence when Thompson bangs on a feed bucket. Inside the eight-foot-tall wire mesh fence there are also elk, bison, red stag, and three varieties of deer.

Thompson leads the way through a metal gate and across a pasture. He stops to admire a sleek fat fallow deer with a large set of antlers.

"Ain't that pretty? That's my breeder buck. He'll live and die of old age here. He kicks out the pretty horns," says Thompson proudly.

Joe Thompson says he loves just watching the animals. Some are skittish, dashing into the woods when approached. Thompson whistles to attract the animals attention, but they disappear into the thick brush.

"See that's why they're still wild. They don't come out when they're supposed to," says Thompson.

But hunters here are guaranteed a kill. They can even choose the size of the animal they want. And several people each paid thousands of dollars this fall to shoot elk or other exotics.

"I guess it's kinda like an honor to be an Indian right now. So we can have things like this," says Thompson.

That's why this shooting preserve exists. It's on a reservation, and only enrolled members of Indian tribes are allowed to shoot animals here. Anyone else would face arrest by state conservation officers. But Joe Thompson is looking to the future.

"I think about five years down the road when state people want to get in on it, I think it looks good. Like they say, if you build it they will come," says Thompson.

For non-tribal members to have a chance to shoot elk or big horn sheep here, the state Legislature must approve big game shooting preserves. The legislation has failed several times.

Big game can legally be raised in Minnesota. There are hundreds of such farms in operation now. The animals can be slaughtered, but not shot for sport.

Joe Thompson's farm in the woods of northern Minnesota is piquing the interest of people on both sides of the big game preserve debate.

	A fallow deer is one of many wild animals that live on Joe Thompson's game shooting preserve on the White Earth reservation. Hunters are guaranteed a kill. Several people each paid thousands of dollars this fall to shoot elk or other exotics. See more images. (MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson)

The early success of Joe Thompson's game farm gives additional weight to the argument for legalizing shooting preserves, according to Denny Neiss, president of the Minnesota Deer Breeders Association.

"I think it just shows there is a demand for it. That people are willing to do it and only Native Americans can harvest an animal on the White Earth Reservation. I cannot go up there and harvest one," says Niess.

This will be the year the Minnesota Legislature approves a limited number of big game shooting preserves, says Niess.

Those who oppose the game farms argue it's unethical to shoot animals in a fenced area. Some state officials worry game farms could spread disease to wild deer populations.

Denny Niess says big game preserves are successful in more than 30 states. He believes the issue boils down to an urban versus rural split.

"With 50 percent of the control of our state in Minneapolis-St. Paul, they can't relate to a shooting preserve. Their perception is every animal is like Bambi in the movie, not a 300-pound buck that would kill you in rut season if he had an opportunity," says Niess.

"My son is a deer hunter. I can't imagine anyone wanting a rack on their wall that they got by shooting an animal in a pen," says state Sen. Jane Krentz, DFL-May Township.

Krentz chairs the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Last year she blocked a bill in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee to authorize big game shooting preserves.

The opening of Joe Thompson's farm on the White Earth Reservation does not change her opposition to shooting preserves.

"I believe two wrongs don't necessarily make a right. And sometimes life is not fair. And sometimes we just react. We control what we can control. There's a variety of things we can do in the game and wildlife area to promote tourism and people coming to Minnesota without going down that path, I think," says Krentz.

Krentz says she is investigating who has jurisdiction over Joe Thompson's operation, and who will ensure the animals are disease-free.

Department of Natural Resources officials say they can't regulate an operation on the reservation as long as it's used only by tribal members. They say Joe Thompson has assured them he will not violate state law.

The Minnesota Legislature will be asked to allow big game shooting preserves like Joe Thompson's across the state in the future.