In November, voting Mainers will have an opportunity to right a terrible wrong that has been permitted in the state for too long.

Bear “hunting” has become anything but. With Maine’s baiting, trapping and hounding, the sport has become a lazy pastime. Put a barrel of doughnuts out, slap your name on a blind and shoot a bear when the season opens.

The only thing worse would be to let “hunters” perch themselves from the chain link fence at the Maine Wildlife Park and take aim at the resident bears.

Not only is that not hunting in the truest, most literal sense of the word, it is grossly unfair and disrespectful to another living creature.

Mainers can do better.

The entire nation, if not the world, knows of Maine’s great affection for the outdoors and Mainers’propensity for immersing themselves in all facets of the wild, in every season.

Maine residents have great pride in the trails, shorelines, fishing ponds and, yes, great hunting opportunities. Maine is one of a relative handful of states still allowing certain hunting practices.

Maine may be the first to see the sunrise, but it is not leading the way in rightful bear hunting.

Gandhi said “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Can the same be said of a state?

Is Maine’s greatness somehow blunted by the way Mainers treat bears?

Jim Mentink, Auburn

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