On Election Day, Maine voters will be asked to decide whether to retain or eliminate the baiting of bears or the use of hunting dogs. Most of the support for this public question comes from out-ofstate animal rights groups who actually oppose all hunting. That view does not take into consideration senior or disabled hunters and it does not address the problem if long-range shots in wooded areas.

Elderly hunters and those who suffer from physical disabilities benefits from methods that bring game closer. Baiting and dogs are a big help to such sportsmen. As to the well-being of the bears being hunted, longer-range hits among heavy shrubs and trees are certain to produce more wounded animals that will go off to suffer and die without being properly harvested. Moreover, these hunters are likely to keep going until they can register a clean kill on another bear.

For these reasons, I respectfully recommend that hunters and their supporters vote NO on Question 1.

Bob Jørgensen
Brunswick