“The Bear Hunting Forum,” a discussion with experts on November’s statewide ballot measure on bear-hunting practices will air at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on WCSH (Ch. 6) in Portland and WLBZ (Ch. 2) in Bangor.

The forum, a collaboration between the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and WCSH-TV, was taped Friday.

The panelists participating for the Yes on 1 campaign are Cecil Gray, Master Maine Guide and a member of the coalition, Mainers For Fair Bear Hunting, and Wayne Pacelle, CEO and President of the Humane Society of the United States, based in Washington, D.C. For the No on 1 campaign, the panelists are James Cote, campaign manger for Save Maine’s Bear Hunt and Management Practices, and Judy Camuso, wildlife division director for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

All four field questions from Portland Press Herald outdoors reporter Deirdre Fleming and News Center reporter Bill Green.

The Nov. 4 referendum question asks voters: “Do you want to ban the use of bait, dogs or traps in bear hunting except to protect property, public safety or for research?” Maine is the only state to allow all three hunting methods to manage its population of 30,000 bears, one of the largest in the country.

Fleming and Green will be tweeting during the broadcast at @FlemingPph and @billgreensmaine.

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