Local sportsmen wary of anti-bear baiting campaign
By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
DEXTER — The bear baiting initiative that will more than likely be on the November general election ballot in Maine just isn’t about one game animal. The ultimate goal of the Humane Society of the United States (HUSU) is to ban hunting altogether.
That was the consensus of a forum hosted by the Maine Wildlife Conservation Council last week at Dexter Regional High School.
While the turnout was relatively small — 20 to 25 people — those who attended were unanimously opposed to the referendum that would prohibit hunters from using food, traps and dogs to hunt bear.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
Maine Bowhunters’ Association President John Hunt
A similar initiative in 2004 was defeated by a 53-47 percent margin. But the council’s campaign manager, James Cote, said that the organizers are well-financed and determined to get their message across.
Cote said that he was “born in Farmington (Maine) and raised in Farmington. I hunt and fish every weekend that I can and I spend a lot of time at camp. So this is not just a job for me, but something that is near and dear to my heart.”
Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, the anti-hunt organization, submitted 78,528 signatures to get the issue on the ballot. A minimum of 57,277 were needed, and the Maine secretary of state’s office has to certify them by March 5.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
James Cote of the Maine Wildlife Federation Council
But Cote said that since they compiled about 40 percent more signatures than needed, “I think it’s a foregone conclusion that this will be on the ballot.”
While Gov. Paul LePage has significant differences of opinion with his challengers for reelection this fall — independent Elliot Cutler and Democrat Mike Michaud — Cote noted that all three candidates are opposed to the bear baiting initiative.
Also, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is opposed to the referendum, and LePage has given game wardens permission to appear in public in uniform to speak on the issue. “I’ve been traveling throughout the state with some of these folks and they are fantastic,” Cote said.
The campaign manager said that one major obstacle he has to overcome is the perception that HSUS is affiliated with local animal shelters. “HSUS is a highly-sophisticated political organization with a $150 million budget. They are equivalent to the NRA (National Rifle Association) on the animal rights spectrum,” Cote said. “This initiative will impact more than just bears and bear hunting in the state of Maine.”
But to win the campaign, Cote said that it will take money — twice as much as the bear hunting coalition spent in 2004. “If we don’t raise $2.5 million, there is a good chance we won’t win this campaign,” Cote said.
The tone of the campaign is also important, he added. “There are some very sincere people in their (Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting) campaign and we need to be sensitive to that,” Cote said. “We need to be the voice of reason. We’ve got the facts on our side … We have the healthiest bear population in the country and the best bear biologists in the nation.”
John Hunt of Corinna, president of the Maine Bowhunters’ Association, placed a $20 bill on the table after Cote’s remarks and three or four others followed suit. “It’s put-up or shut-up time,” said Hunt. “We’ve got to kick their (behinds) so hard that they never come back here again.”
“At least for another 10 years,” Cote quipped.
More information about both organizations is online at http://savemainesbearhunt.com and http://fairbearhunt.com.