PORTLAND (AP) — Maine’s black bear hounding season is set to begin nine weeks before a referendum that could ban the hunting of bears with dogs.
The state’s bear hounding season runs from today to Oct. 31. Hunting bears with dogs is one of three methods voters could ban in a November vote. The other two are trapping and hunting with bait.
Opponents of bear hounding say it is cruel and unsporting. Many hunting groups and outfitters oppose the ban because they say it will hurt tourism.
The general bear hunting season and the bait hunting season began Aug. 25. Baiting ends Sept. 20. The general season ends Nov. 29. Trapping began Sept. 1 and ends Oct. 31. Hunters can take two bears during the year, one by hunting and one by trapping.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less