If you’re visiting in rural Maine this week and you think you’re seeing more camouflage-clad people than normal, you’re right.
Bear season is upon us.
To be more precise, bear season actually started (for some lucky hunters) on Saturday, which was set aside for youths, who were required to be hunting with an adult.
Today, the “general hunting season” began; that session runs from now until Nov. 26, with various rules changes along the way.
For instance, hunters are allowed to hunt over bait for four weeks — until Sept. 24. In preparation for that bait season, guides were allowed to begin placing bait in the woods on July 30. The vast majority of the bears shot by hunters in Maine each year are taken over bait.
From Sept. 12 through Oct. 28, hunters will be allowed to hunt bears using dogs. Trapping of bears is permitted from Sept. 1 until Oct. 31. During the November regular firearms season on deer, hunters are also allowed to hunt bears, provided they don’t use bait, traps or dogs.
In 2014, Maine voters defeated a referendum that would have outlawed the use of bait, traps and dogs by bear hunters.
According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s website, there are between 24,000 and 36,000 black bears living in the state.
Hunters taking part in the bait season typically head into the woods in the mid- to late afternoon and sit in treestands or ground blinds until just after dark.
Many of those hunters are from outside Maine, and rely on the services of a Maine guide.
In the weeks ahead, I expect that we’ll hear all kinds of bear tales. If you end up with a story that you want to share, reach out to me at jholyoke@bangordailynews.com and I might use it in a future blog.
Good luck — and safe hunting — to all who are participating in the season this year.
