Columbus, OH –-(Ammoland.com)- 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.
A hearing has been scheduled for the bill before the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Wildlife for this Friday, May 10th. The hearing is scheduled to take place at 10 A.M. in Room 206 in the Cross Office Building in Augusta.
“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. “Maine sportsmen must once again speak up to protect bear hunting.”
In 2004, HSUS went to the ballot with Question 2 in Maine but were unsuccessful in their attempt to ban bear hunting with dogs and bear trapping. Bear hunting with dogs and trapping are important components of bear management in the state that helps protect public safety and control nuisance bears.
HSUS has recently backed anti-bear hunting legislation in other states including California and Nevada.
Take Action! Maine 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. Contact information for the Committee members can be found in USSA’s action alert.
About:The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.