Maine Environmental Policy Institute

Maine Environmental Policy Institute Report and Voter Guide:
An Act Prohibiting Certain Bear Hunting Practices

The Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
(Photo by Branson Reynolds)

On November 2, 2004 Maine voters will face this question on the ballot:

"Do you want to make it a crime to hunt bears with bait, traps or dogs, except to protect property, public safety or for research?"

The Maine Environmental Policy Institute presents the following information to help voters make an informed decision on this issue:

  • Black Bears: A Situation Analysis on Baiting and Hounding. A report prepared for the Maine Environmental Policy Institute by Meredith Gore, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University.

    This report summarizes key elements of what bear baiting and hunting with hounds entails; reviews the status of the practices in various portions of the United States; provides a situation analysis within states recently confronting similar referendums. This report does not offer arguments supporting or rejecting the merit of either side of the debate. The report is available in

  • Read the language of the initiative, from the Maine Secretary of State’s website.

    Supporting the initiative.....

  • The sponsor of the initiative is Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting.
  • Humane Society of the United States

    Opposing the initiative.....

  • Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
  • The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine
  • Maine Professional Guides Association

    News articles, editorials, and opinion pieces. Updated daily......

    Leases, bear baiting hot topics at meeting (Bangor Daily News, 2/24/04)

    Hunters For Fair Bear Hunting will work against baiting (Portland Press Herald, 2/20/04)

    Opinion: Bear baiting is quick and humane (Bangor Daily News, 2/19/04)

    Baldacci: Believe the bear experts (Portland Press Herald, 2/11/04)

    Baldacci urges rejection of ban on bear baiting (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel, 2/11/04)

    Baldacci affirms support for bear baiting (Bangor Daily News, 2/11/04)

    Bear politics likely to dominate event at the State House (Lewiston Sun-Journal, 2/10/04)

    Will Maine's black bear population explode without traditional forms of hunting? (Portland Press Herald, 2/1/04)

    Unusual field trips to show how the state monitors the health of the black bear population (Portland Press Herald, 2/1/04)

    Group hopes petitions force bear-baiting vote (Portland Press Herald, 1/29/04)

    Controversial bear-baiting petitions filed with state (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel, 1/29/04)

    Bear-bait petition delivered: 103,251 sign on to referendum to ban controversial hunting practice (Bangor Daily News, 1/29/04)

    Bear Baiting opponents submit petitions for statewide vote (Associated Press, 1/28/04)

    Editorial: Public should have more information on bear-baiting (Portland Press Herald, 1/26/04)

    Bear debate draws bucks (Bangor Daily News, 1/26/04)

    Advisers nix bear baiting ban proposal (Bangor Daily News, 1/23/04)

    Older bear referendum news items.

    Please contact us by email meepi@meepi.org if you have any questions or suggestions for additional information for this page.

    Maine Environmental Policy Institute
    220 Water Street, POB 347, Hallowell, Maine 04347. Phone: 207-622-9766
    Email: meepi@meepi.org

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