PORTLAND, Maine — Maine's bear hunting season gets underway amid a drive from animal rights activists to ban three methods of hunting the animals.
State residents will vote in November on a proposal to ban hunting bears with bait, dogs or traps. The general bear hunting season begins Monday and closes Nov. 29.
Opponents of the three methods say hunting with dogs and traps is cruel and bait habituates bears to humans. Bait is sugary human food like doughnuts. Many hunters and hunting outfitters say banning the methods would hurt the state's economy.
Maine hunters are limited to two bears per year — one by hunting and one by trapping.
Hunting with bait ends Sept. 20, hunting with dogs runs Sept. 8 to Oct. 31 and trapping runs Sept. 1 to Oct. 31.