By Dr. Dave Samuel, Conservation Editor

Maine Fights Bear Referendum

Last fall the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) circulated petitions that would allow a November 2004 vote to ban bear hunting with bait and dogs, as well as bear trapping in Maine. There is nothing new about this approach. HSUS has led -– and won -– similar bear initiatives in Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Maine sportsmen are taking steps to prevent the loss of bear hunting and bear management by forming a coalition (Maine's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council) to defend bear hunting and trapping. The Coalition includes the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, the Maine Professional Guides Association, the Maine Trappers Association, the Maine Bow Hunters Association, the Maine Taxidermy Association, and many other state and local fish and game organizations.

This initiative has nothing to do with bear biology, bear management, or maintaining a healthy bear population. The Maine game agency estimates a bear population of 23,000, the highest of any state in the Lower 48. Can you imagine the problems that will be created in Maine if bear hunting is stopped?

In addition to increased human encounters, damage, and problem bears, there will also be huge economic loss to rural Maine. Bear hunting generates $6.4 million to the state's economy. Maine's guiding industry will lose $4.5 million while the wildlife agency will lose $1.5 million in license sales. Understand that if bear hunting is stopped, the game department will still have to manage bears from their existing budget. The loss of all bear license funds, plus the added expense of managing a growing bear population with no hunting, means that other agency programs "will" be cut. No bear management also means that citizens and bears will suffer. This information must be given to the public, but it will cost a lot of money.

You can help! In fact, you must help the hunters and trappers of Maine. Individual hunters and hunting clubs throughout America should send donations to Maine's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council, SAM, 205 Church Hill Road, Augusta, ME 04331. On the check, write, "Bear Referendum Campaign." You can also donate online at www.samcef.org. Regular updates will be posted at this site.

Where Will We Hunt?

Surveys in recent years show that 14 percent of all hunters use public lands. That is why our public National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands, so abundant in the West, are very important to hunters and fishermen.

Unfortunately, these surveys also show that access to public lands is declining. In order to estimate public access, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) led the formation of a Sportsmen's Access to Federal Public Lands Working Group. This group comprises the top federal land management agencies and the heads of 17 sportsmen's conservation organizations, including the Pope and Young Club. The group meets regularly to work on issues of declining access for hunters. Research funded by this group shows that "for most hunters and anglers, it is not an issue of all access to all places, but more an issue of the right access to the right places," reported Jodi Stemler of the CSF.

Recently the working group met at the Department of Interior to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to address the issue of declining access. The goal of this working group is to develop solutions to address declining access. For more information go to www.sportsmenslink.org/access.

PA Game Officer Needs Help

On June 26, 2003, law enforcement officer Roger Hartless had his garage, state vehicle, and home damaged by arson. Losses were estimated at $45,000. The Game Commission is especially interested in bringing those responsible to justice because it was a direct attack on one of their employees. Donations are being accepted for a reward fund that has now raised over $12,000. This support shows how important the capture of the persons responsible is to the sportsmen of Pennsylvania, fellow law enforcement officers, and others interested in justice in Pennsylvania. Anyone with information on this case should contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS.

Speaking of bad guys in hunting, consider George Waters from Iowa. He was recently arrested for killing 15 elk and deer in Colorado and 30 trophy bucks in Iowa. Waters did his killing in the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, hiding deer heads and guns on the military depot until they could be retrieved at a later date. Trophies were submitted to Boone and Crockett under the names of friends and relatives. Some whitetails were also taken in other areas of Iowa, and antlers were sold to an undercover agent. Sentencing is pending.

In Texas, a father dropped off his son and a friend of the son on the Harris Ranch to hunt. Although Texas law requires landowner consent, the pair did not have permission. The boys killed three deer and were caught. Later, the boys and the father were charged, but the father pleaded innocent. However, the father was found guilty because he was responsible for the actions of the son and the son's friend. Great role model, huh?

"On Target for Life" Program Grows

In the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of Bowhunter I discussed the "On Target For Life" archery program started in Kentucky. The program has met with huge response in Kentucky, and now it's spreading. Georgia is starting a 10-school pilot program and will train teachers from up to 21 more schools. In addition, in October 2003 Kentucky hosted a training program for state agency staff from Tennessee, Arkansas, Ohio, and Illinois. Those taking this training program are now able to go home and train physical education instructors to teach archery. The "On Target For Life" program is great for public schools, great for education, great for archery, great for those participating, and great for hunter recruitment.

I'm Not Responsible

In these days of liability suits it seems that no one accepts responsibility for much of anything. Consider a recent Wildlife Law News Quarterly report about Julie Nile, who hit a tree when she swerved to miss a deer in Chautauqua County, New York. She sued the county for injuries, stating that the county was negligent for not posting a "Deer Crossing" sign in the area.

Hmmm, is this what we want to do every time there is a deer/car collision? In all fairness to Nile, she did show that at least 19 deer were hit in the area over the previous 3 years. However, the county was not judged to be negligent, because no other citizens had complained or requested a sign. Here's an idea. When driving where deer commonly cross the road after dark, maybe people should slow down and drive more cautiously. Just an idea!