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Ban won’t halt hunts

Tom Hennessey’s attempt to convince Maine hunters that the bear referendum is the end of bear hunting in Maine and is the first step to end all hunting and fishing is the most unethical aspect of the bear hunting issue that I have observed to date. He is using the same Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine propaganda that is being presented to Maine hunters to scare them into voting against the referendum. Every single aspect that he has presented can be rebuffed or proved wrong by examination of that issue.

He says the bear baiting referendum is only the first step to stopping all hunting and fishing in Maine. It would take other statewide referendums proposing those changes to get passed for that to happen. Current polls show that about 90 percent of people in this state approve of fishing. And about 80 percent approve of hunting (as long as hunting ethics are maintained). Does anyone really think that any anti-hunting or fishing referendum would even get on the ballot to stop hunting and fishing in Maine? This is not even a serious argument to debate.

He says the law, as written, would stop hunting of bears over natural food. That is not what the law says, that is his opinion. The law states “Bait, including but not limited to, doughnuts and other pastries, grease, meat, fruits vegetables, honey, and [any other food known to be attractive to bear, may not be used to hunt or attract bear”].

The dictionary defines bait, used in this context as a noun, as, “food, etc. put on a hook or trap to lure animals or fish”. Used as a verb, it is “to put food, etc. on a hook, or trap to lure animals or fish. That is, for both uses you have to take action by placing the food as bait. As an example, hunting close to a pile of apples fallen off a tree is not baiting. If you took the action of moving the apples to a pile outside the orchard, that would be baiting. Hunting in woods covered with beech trees with beechnuts falling to the ground is not baiting. Hunting over a pile of placed doughnuts and pastries is baiting.

The reason I am for stopping the bear baiting/hounding hunting is so that I, and other Maine sportsmen, can go bear hunting with some reasonable expectations of success without having to pay a guide a fee of $1,200 to $1,500 for the right to hunt bears. I want to hunt the woods during the hunting seasons in October and November and actually still find bears. Ninety percent of the bears that can be taken each year are tagged during the baiting and hounding seasons by mostly out-of-state trophy hunters, leaving nothing for the casual Maine bear hunter.

Larry Ferrell

Newport

Bear trapping is cruel

Maine’s “heritage” that Mr. Hennessey wants to so proudly protect is capitalizing on cruelty. There is a reason bear baiting is illegal in 41 states. There is a reason bear trapping is illegal everywhere but Maine. It isn’t hunting, it is profiteering. Some gun owners and Maine state officials who profit from the inhumane practices of bear trapping and bear baiting, mostly by out-of-state hunters, can use any number of ways to rationalize this unsportsmanlike act that fills their pockets. It is not a fair chase.

Dirigo? I guess that means leading the country as the only state that still allows the unconscionable act of bear trapping. Is this the Maine way? Tom thinks so. Many actual hunters do not.

Killian King

Portland

Hennessey off-target

I have to say, after reading Tom Hennessey’s columns on bear baiting over the last week, that I am more than ever against the practices of bear baiting, hounding and trapping. The arrogance and propaganda expressed by Mr. Hennessey in the name of guides and sportsmen should make the average Maine resident blush.

Mr. Hennessey implies that any guide who doesn’t take their customers out to kill something in the woods is not a real Maine Guide. This just shows the inability in Mr. Hennessey’s camp to go willingly into what is the future of our outdoor heritage, exploration of the many pleasures our state has to offer for the sake of enjoyment, not just to kill something for bragging rights.

Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and other non-consumptive activities are the future for Maine.

The only real hunting tradition in Maine is that in our not too distant past we hunted to put food on our families table. Hunting just to kill something has never been tradition. Get with the times, Mr. Hennessey, and support the future of the outdoors. There is a place for the hunters and fishermen, alongside the kayakers, canoeists and hikers. The majority of these people embrace fairness and respect wildlife.

The people of Maine will speak clearly in November.

Daryl DeJoy

Penobscot