The attempt to stop traditional bear hunting in Maine through this fall’s referendum is being bankrolled by the Humane Society of the United States, a wealthy animal rights organization whose main mission is to raise money. Look at its brochure. It asks you to join and contribute so that it can be more effective in stopping abuse of dogs and cats. Nowhere does HSUS mention the large sums of money it has expended in attempts to stop various hunting activities across the country.

Based on its past history in other states, HSUS is expected to spend more than $1 million in Maine this fall to win its bear referendum. The front organization for HSUS is called “Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting.”

Early in the game the organization fighting the referendum, the Maine Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council, which is a broad based coalition of guides, biologists, outfitters and sportsmen, made a sober assessment of the situation. The opposition has an advantage. Not only is it promoting a seductive and emotionally appealing theme that is likely to resonate with the uninformed voter, it has deep pockets. Money talks. This is especially true during short, contentious political contests when the battlefield comprises an unrelenting deluge of TV commercials.

Maine sportsmen were told by political strategists that without lots of campaign dollars to match the big bucks being spent to ban traditional bear hunting, the battle would belong to the opposition. So sportsmen rallied. George Smith of Sportsmen’s Alliance of Maine says that sportsmen need to raise well in excess of $1 million for an effective fall campaign.

Although it is still early in the contest to save bear hunting, things are looking up, moneywise.

To date, sportsmen have contributed $737, 157 to be used in this fall’s campaign. Most telling of all is the fact that more than 65 percent of the 6,050 sportsmen donors are from Maine and most of the money raised is from inside Maine. On the other hand, more than 90 percent of the funds being raised by the pro referendum forces have come from outside sources.

So far the only significant in-state contribution supporting the bear hunt ban came from Nancy Gray, owner of the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport. She contributed $5,000.

In Maine, regional fish and game clubs are doing their part. To its everlasting credit, the Presque Isle sportsmen club raised $30,000 in one night. Pete Norris, a former Maine sporting camp operator, called me today with a wonderful story. He drove 600 miles to Manchester, Vermont to answer a request for a speaker to update the Green Mountain sportsmen on Maine’s bear referendum. Before Norris left the Manchester Fish and Game Club members opened their wallets and contributed $3,600.

“I could hardly believe it,” Norris told me.”These folks were contributing $100 and $200 apiece to help Maine save its traditional bear hunt. They understand the issue and what’s at stake, not just for Maine sportsmen, but for all sportsmen who fear the loss of their hunting heritage.”

Edith Leary, the campaign manager for the Maine Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council, summed it up best. “I can’t think of another campaign in Maine which can demonstrate such strong opposition to a ballot question so early in a campaign season. The broad base of