Yesterday, May 19, the Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife voted down anti-bear hunting legislation, Legislative Document 801 (Bates-Westbrook). As previously reported, “An Act To Ensure Safe and Humane Bear Hunting Practices” would have created a Class D crime for hunting bear with the use of dogs for the first offense.
Thanks to your calls and emails, the bill was overwhelmingly defeated by a vote of 12-1-1. We thank you for your efforts to preserve bear hunting in Maine.