AUGUSTA (AP) — The busiest portion of Maine’s annual bear hunt is entering its last few days.

Maine’s bear hunt stretches from late August to late November, but the busiest stretch is the portion that allows hunters to lay bait.

That part of the season ends on Saturday, Sept. 24. It is the portion of the year when most bears are killed.

Hunters can still pursue bears with hunting dogs until Oct. 28. Hunting without dogs or bait is allowed until Nov. 26.

Maine voters rejected a chance to make hunting with bait, dogs or traps illegal in 2014. State biologists opposed the referendum. They say the hunting methods are necessary to keep the growing bear population under control.

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