Legislative Draft 1080, which was recently introduced by Representative Alan M. Casavant (D- Biddeford), would ban all hunting of bears with dogs and bear trapping in the state. Under the bill, either activity would be a criminal offense.

Ending bear hunting and bear trapping in Maine has long been a goal of the anti-hunting movement. Legislative Draft 1080 is similar to a ballot initiative that was rejected by voters in 2004. Lawmakers have since upheld the voters’ decision as they have defeated similar efforts in past years. The bill is currently pending in the Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

“Maine has more bears per square mile of habitat than any other state and the population is continuing to expand. This fact doesn’t matter to animal extremists who try to attack our bear harvesting methods every chance they get,” said Skip Trask with the Maine Trappers Association. “Trapping and hunting with dogs are important and necessary tools for managing our large black bear population.”

“This bill is an outright attack on Maine sportsmen,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “Not only does it ban two popular and successful methods of bear hunting and conservation but seeks to classify sportsmen as criminals. All sportsmen need to make calls to oppose this legislation.”

I sure never understood what it is so darn cute and cuddly about black bears. They are cool to see but there's nothing warm and fuzzy about them when they stand up on their hind legs out of the tall grass 20 feet from your wheelchair.
Don

Let one of their kids get attacked and maybe killed and see if they change their minds....

Mark