The Indiana state House of Representatives has passed a bill to protect high-fence hunting preserves in the Hoosier State.

The bill passed in a 55 to 39 vote and now moves to the state Senate's Natural Resources Committee, according to the Indianapolis Star.

The legislation would protect those high-fence hunting preserves that were established before 2015.

The move is a blow to efforts from some, including the state's wildlife officers, to ban the preserves because there was a fear that the hunts were unethical and promoted disease. According to the Indianapolis Star, some Republican leaders in the state Senate have tried to ban high-fence hunting, comparing it to dig fighting.

Tell Us What You Think: Is High-Fence Hunting Ethical?

Last year a similar bill failed in the state Senate by one vote, the paper said.

There are currently four high-fence hunting preserves in the state.