People who oppose bear baiting have no idea what they’re talking about

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 14, 2026

When it comes to hunting in Maine, no topic breeds more division between not only hunters and non-hunters but also within the hunting community itself than whether we should be able to hunt bears over bait. In 2014, Maine bear baiting faced its greatest threat in the form of a citizen-initiated referendum. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife launched an expensive but effective counter campaign in support of all bear hunting practices, including baiting. As a result, the proposal was defeated. Despite the referendum’s defeat, there continues to be strong opposition to bear baiting in Maine. Without baiting, hunters would be unable to even come close to the state’s bear harvest goals. ~ Chris Sargent, originally published in August 2022