I am responding to the column “Money trail” (June 13) written by V. Paul Reynolds.

The fact of the matter is that shooting bears while they are feeding at dump or bait sites is by no means traditional hunting. This practice began approximately 25 years ago when hunters realized the overwhelming number of black bears attracted to municipal dumps.

Even though the opponents are calling these hunting methods traditional doesn’t make them right. We don’t stone or hang people, even though it was a traditional way of dealing with criminals.

The practices of baiting, trapping and hounding are cruel and unsportsmanlike. Period.

The tradition is bear hunting, and that will not be affected if the referendum passes. It will only force those to hunt bear like many other animals are hunted, and that does not include the above-mentioned methods.

Maine is far behind the rest of the United States with its bear hunting policies. Sadly, Maine is the only state that still allows trapping of bear.

Call it tradition if you want. I call it cruel, unsportsmanlike and wrong, and will vote in favor of the referendum.

Lisa Haines, Bowdoin

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