STUART, FL -- More than 150 people packed into the county commission chambers Tuesday to debate the future of Martin County's hunting camps.
The hunters in the audience wore orange to show their support.
There were also angry residents who live near hunting camps as well as animal rights activists who were spoiling for a fight.
"I call it a wildlife slaughterhouse," said Bill Summers, a Martin County resident, referring to J&R Outfitters' hunting camp.
J&R Outfitters is the largest hunting camp in the state. It spans nearly 4 square miles.
Hunters, who fly in from across the country, can pay up to $5000 to stalk exotic animals including water buffalo, rare deer and antelope from India and Africa.
Though it is licensed by the state, for nearly two decades J&R has violated county zoning laws, which don't allow hunting camps on that particular land.
"There's no way anyone had any idea we were doing anything illegal," said Joe O'Bannon, co-owner of J&R Outfitters.
No one noticed the zoning problem until about a year ago when O'Bannon allowed a shooting range on site. Neighbors complained about the noise and safety concerns.
O'Bannon shut down the range, but the complaints continued, causing the county to investigate the zoning issues and cite J&R for code violations.
"This creates a huge safety concern for those living near hunting camps," said Bill Moss, who lives near J&R.
Emotions ran high as the public sounded off on the morality of what they called "canned hunting."
County commissioners don't have the authority to regulate hunting. That's overseen by the state of Florida.
Commissioners could only decide whether to allow the hunting camps - the actual lodges where tourists stay when they visit the preserves.
The county's often confusing zoning laws date back more than 40 years. They allow hunting camps on much smaller tracts of agricultural land.
Tuesday, by a 4-1 margin with Commissioner Sarah Heard dissenting, the board voted to allow J&R Outfitters and the 5 other hunting camps in the county to continue to operate - essentially "grandfathering in" the businesses, without guaranteeing similar rights for future camps.
Commissioners will continue to debate how many hunters will be allowed in such camps, and whether food service will be permitted.
A second public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17 before any decision is final.
