The Maine Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments in a lawsuit that pits a hunting reform group against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife about the agency’s role in defeating proposed changes to the state’s bear hunt.

Maine residents shot down changes to the bear hunt at the polls in 2014.

A case related to the 2014 Maine referendum to change the rules of bear hunting will be heard by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
A case related to the 2014 Maine referendum to change the rules of bear hunting will be heard by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. 2012 Associated Press File Photo

Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting and their allies wanted to ban the use of bait, dogs and traps to hunt bears. The wildlife department campaigned against the initiative.

Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting sued the state before the election to prohibit the campaigning. A state superior court dismissed the lawsuit as moot after the election and the group appealed.

The case is scheduled before the high court Feb. 10. The group maintains the state’s campaign activities were illegal.

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