Maine’s Bear Hunting Season Has Started [POLL]

Take cover Yogi, here we go!

Bear hunting season has begun in our state and will last until November 29th.  Maine hunters are allowed to take two bears, one by hunting and one by trapping.

Hunting with bait ends September 20th and trapping runs until October 31st..  Hunting with dogs will begin on September 8th and run until October 31st.

Maine has a black bear population of approximately 30,000 bears with most living in the northern and eastern parts of the state. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife say that the bear population has increased by 30% in the past decade. According to the Department only 25% of hunters will kill a bear.

On election day in November, residents will vote on a proposal that would ban hunting bear with bait, dogs or traps.

Supporters of bear hunting say the ban would hurt the economy.  Proponents of the proposal to ban say that baiting bears with donuts, hunting with dogs and traps is cruel.

Maine is currently the only state that allows baiting, dogs and trapping.