The general hunting season for bear is from Aug. 25 through Nov. 29. Bear can be and are taken by deer hunters with a regular hunting license during the firearms deer season in November.

Outside of the firearms season on deer, a special bear-hunting permit (in addition to a hunting license) is required to hunt bear.

From fruits to fries: It all waits as bear bait

Any high-calorie or high-protein food that is easily bought in large quantities may be used as bear bait.

The most prominent type of bait used in the state is pastries, which are used in combination with the following: meat scraps, molasses, beaver carcasses, used Fryolator grease, table scraps, fish, honey, grains, fruits, candy, french fries and breads.

According to Maine law, the placing of bear bait must conform to the following:

Bait may not be used to hunt or trap bear, unless:

• The bait is placed at least 50 yards from any travel way that is accessible by a conventional 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicle.

• The stand, blind or bait area is plainly labeled with a 2-inch by 4-inch tag with the name and address of the baiter.

• The bait is placed more than 500 yards from any dump or campground.

• The bait is placed more than 500 yards from an occupied dwelling, unless written permission is granted by the owner or lessee.

• The bait is placed not more than 30 days before the opening day of the season and not after Oct. 31. In 2003, the season to hunt bear over bait ran from Aug. 25 through Sept. 20. Bait may not be used to hunt bear from Sept. 22 to Nov. 29.

• The bait areas will be cleaned up by Nov. 10, as defined by state litter laws.

• The person hunting from any stand or blind of another person has permission of the owner of that stand or blind.

Additionally, many of the large forest landowners and or managers in Maine have developed specific policies governing bait sites, bait site fees, liability protection, tree stands and the administration and enforcement of their bear hunting requirements.

In general, a bear-bait site must be no less than half a mile from another bait site, and bear baits are not allowed in areas with active logging operations.

Cables, cages, steel jaws ensnare Maine bear

Bear trapping season runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31.

Steel-jawed leg-hold traps are legal in Maine, as well as cage-type live traps and snare traps that feature steel cables and spring-loaded triggers. Maine is the only state in the United States that allows use of foothold traps to harvest bear.

Most trapping is conducted using foot snares. They’re also used in the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s bear capture and tagging program. The department says the traps are selective, humane and effective trapping devices.

Opponents consider them to cause bears unreasonable pain and suffering.

No person may have more than two traps set for bear at any time.

Whenever foothold and cage-type live traps are used, each trap must be clearly identified by signs.

Foot snares and foothold traps must be set at or below ground level to catch the animal only by the foot or leg.

The chase is on for hunters who use dogs

Hunting with hounds is a tradition that goes back to medieval Europe.

In Maine, bear hunting with dogs is allowed from Sept. 8 to Oct. 31.

Use of hounds is the most physically demanding hunting method, often requiring many miles of hiking to follow hounds on a chase. Success rates on individual chases are usually low (less than 20 percent), the department states.

Training and keeping effective bear dogs is very expensive and time-consuming, so participation is limited.

A hunter may not use more than four dogs at any one time to hunt bear in Maine.

Nonresidents may not use a dog or dogs to hunt for bear unless they employ and hunt with a resident Maine guide. But nonresidents who hold a valid Maine guide license can hunt bear with dogs themselves and guide residents but not nonresidents.

Opponents believe that hunting with dogs is inhumane because of the possibility of an extended chase and resultant stress on the bear, as well as potential injury to bears and dogs during a physical encounter. Others believe it is not in the spirit of “fair chase” to use dogs to tree a bear, then shoot it.

Copy the Story Link