On Friday, May 10th, the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Wildlife will hold a hearing on an anti-bear hunting bill being pushed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The hearing is scheduled for 10 A.M. in Room 206 in the Cross Office Building in Augusta.
All sportsmen should plan to attend and speak against this attack on hunting and scientific wildlife management.
The bill, LD 1474 sponsored by Representative Denise Patricia Harlow (D-Portland) and supported by HSUS, would:
- Ban bear trapping and bear hunting with dogs. Under the bill, government officials would only be allowed to trap or use dogs on “specific offending” bears or for scientific studies
- Ban using a leashed dog to track a wounded bear
- Place a permanent prohibition on hunting bears between January 1st and July 31st
- Reduce the bear bag limit from two to one bear for all hunters.
“HSUS and other anti-hunting organizations are working hard to pressure lawmakers into passing this hunting ban,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “It is very important for sportsmen to make a strong showing of opposition at the hearing. Sportsmen who are unable to attend the hearing should contact the members of the committee today.”
Bear hunting is an important tool to manage Maine’s large bear population. Bear hunting with dogs and trapping are important components of bear management in the state that helps protect public safety and control nuisance bears.
Take Action! Sportsmen should plan on attending Friday’s hearing. Those unable to attend should contact members of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Wildlife today and tell them to vote NO on LD 1474.
Chair Senator David Dutremble (D-York)
(207) 287-1540 Sendavid.dutremble@legislature.maine.gov
Chair Rep. Michael Shaw (D-Standish)
(207) 787-4352 RepMike.Shaw@legislature.maine.gov
Senator Anne Haskell (D-Cumberland)
(207) 287-1540 SenAnne.haskell@legislature.maine.gov
Senator David Burns (R-Washington)
(207) 287-1505 SenDavid.Burns@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Sheryl Briggs (D-Mexico)
(207) 364-5665 RepSheryl.Briggs@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Karen Kusiak (D-Fairfield)
(207) 453-6834 RepKaren.Kusiak@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Timothy Marks (D-Pittston)
(207) 582-6798 RepTim.Marks@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Stanley Byron Short, Jr. (D-Pittsfield)
(207) 487-4944 RepStanley.Short@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Paul Davis, Sr. (R-Sangerville)
(207) 876-4047 RepPaul.Davis@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Dale Crafts (R-Libson)
(207) 353-5469 RepDale.Crafts@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Eleanor Espling (R-New Gloucester)
(207) 926-6082 RepEllie.Espling@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Stephen Wood (R-Sabattus)
(207) 740-3723 RepSteve.Wood@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos (U-Friendship)
(207) 832-7378 RepJeff.Evangelos@legislature.maine.gov
Anti-Bear Hunting and Trapping Bill Introduced in Maine
April 30, 2013
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is pushing legislation that would shut down significant portions of Maine’s bear hunting season. LD 1474, sponsored by Representative Denise Patricia Harlow (D-Portland), would:
- Ban bear trapping and bear hunting with dogs. Under the bill, government officials would only be allowed to trap or use dogs on “specific offending” bears or for scientific studies.
- Ban using a leashed dog to track a wounded bear.
- Place a permanent prohibition on hunting bears between January 1st and July 31st.
- Reduce the bear bag limit from two to one bear for all hunters.
In 2004, HSUS went to the ballot in Maine but were unsuccessful in their attempt to ban bear hunting with dogs and bear trapping.
“The citizens of Maine have already spoken on this issue in 2004 when they shot down Question 2 on the ballot,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “The vote made a clear statement that Maine supports scientific wildlife management and recognizes bear hunting as an important management tool. Unfortunately, Maine sportsmen must once again speak up to protect bear hunting.”
The bill has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, but a hearing has not be scheduled at this time.
Take Action!– Maine sportsmen should contact their state representatives and senators and tell them to vote “NO” on LD 1474. Visit USSA’s Legislative Action Center to find your state representative’s and senator’s contact information
