Explanation:

LD 1635, An Act To Prohibit Recreational Bear Trapping, would have banned hunters in Maine from trapping bears, a practice that has been in effect for many years.

Rep. John Robinson:

LD 1635

An Act To Prohibit Recreational Bear Trapping was reported out of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee with a 12-1 Ought Not To Pass Report. When it came to debate on the House floor, I supported the majority report of the committee and voted to defeat this bill. Maine voters overwhelmingly voted against a similar referendum in 2004. It is my intent to continue to support the rights of our sportsmen, and I won’t support a measure where sportsmen would lose their hunting or trapping rights and heritage.

Rep. Gary Moore:

LD 1635: This bill would have banned bear trapping in Maine, except under a few narrow circumstances. Maine has already banned “steel-jaw” traps, which are the most inhumane. Trappers are now limited to snare traps and only 130 bears are trapped in Maine annually. In addition, the Maine voters defeated a bear trapping referendum in 2004. The Committee’s majority report was accepted by the full House 82-60. I decided to support the committee report. They heard hours of testimony both in favor and against the bill and gave the issue a thorough review.

Rep. Mark Bryant:

LD 1635

In 2004 a bear trapping and hunting ballot question was defeated by the Maine voters. The IF&W put together a working group to look at the bear hunts in Maine. Two major parts of the working group’s recommendations have already been implemented by the department. The numbers of traps that are allowed have been reduced from two to only one per trapper and the use of the steel-jawed devices for bears has been outlawed. After listening to the debates in committee and seeing the changes that the IF&W department have made, I voted ought not to pass on this bill.

Sen. Bill Diamond

LD 1635

The vote in the Senate was “Under the Hammer” (unanimous). No committee information discussed, no debate.

Rep. Rich Cebra:

LD 1635

No. The people of Maine spoke to this issue in the 2004 Bear referendum, and 15 of Maine’s 16 counties rejected the referendum question. During the months prior to that vote, I worked hard as a volunteer for it’s defeat. I continue to work in the Legislature to preserve Maine’s outdoor heritage. Hunting, trapping and fishing are very big components of that heritage. It’s important for the legislature to listen to the people in referendum questions, and this bill is an example of legislators not listening to the people. I was glad to see it’s overwhelming defeat in the house.

Rep. Gary Plummer:

LD 1635

No. I voted against the bill to ban bear trapping. I received several contacts on this bill. Most wanted to preserve this Maine tradition. I think that many people do not realize that the steel jaw traps are no longer used. Several people saw this bill as the beginning of banning all animal trapping in Maine.