I am calling to action the proponents of fair bear hunting in Maine and hoping they will join me in Augusta to demonstrate the support the Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting campaign has from Mainers across the state. Soon, a hearing will be scheduled with the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, but with very little […]
bear baiting
Posted inLetters
C. Bouchles: Keeping the bear population down
This is in response to the Sun Journal article March 6 about the bear-baiting referendum. I guess what the people behind the referendum want to change is the way Maine folks have hunted bears for generations. I guess what they want to achieve is for the bear population to increase exponentially, to the point of […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bear baiting ban has enough signatures for fall referendum
AUGUSTA — The stage is set for a likely November battle over the state’s bear hunting practices as Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap on Wednesday certified 63,626 signatures gathered by referendum supporters as valid. By law, those seeking to put a question on the November ballot needed to gather 57,277 signatures. The question that will […]
Posted inLetters
K. Scribner: Leave bear management to the pros
Recently, I attended a meeting of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine’s Fish and Game Club Network at SAM’s office in Augusta. Present were Judith Camuso, wildlife division director, and game warden Major Christopher Cloutier. They explained how the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife captures bears, takes measurements, weights, and checks to see if […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Signature-gathering tactics by bear baiting opponents come under fire
BANGOR — Opponents of a proposed referendum to ban bear trapping and hunting with bait or hounds are accusing proponents of using deceptive means in their quest to gather the 57,277 signatures needed by Feb. 3 to put the question on the November statewide ballot. Members of Facebook pages devoted to defeating the referendum have […]
Posted inLetters
In rebuttal, K. Hansberry: A better way to hunt bears
Rather than defend the inhumane and unsporting practices of bear hounding, baiting and trapping, state Rep. Ellie Espling, R-New Gloucester, resorted to attacking a well-respected national charity (Sept. 22). Established watchdog entities such as the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Navigator give The Humane Society of the United States top marks. We […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Coalition forms to defend bear hunting practices
AUGUSTA — Weeks after animal rights groups announced that they would seek a referendum that would ban hunting bears with hounds, traps or over bait, those who support the state’s bear hunting status quo unveiled their own coalition on Monday during a press conference outside the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife office. All three official […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Group asks food producers to stop providing free food for bear baiting
PORTLAND — A group that wants to ban bear baiting is asking food suppliers to end the free giveaways of past-their-use-date food for use by hunters. Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting say many consumers would be surprised to learn that suppliers will give away their old food to hunters, who use stale pastries and other […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Group plans to collect signatures for bear-baiting referendum
PORTLAND — A coalition that wants another statewide vote aimed at banning the use of bait, traps and dogs to hunt bears says it’s launching a petition drive in Maine. Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting announced Tuesday that it plans to gather 80,000 signatures of Maine voters, exceeding the 57,277 signatures needed to qualify for […]