The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-04-05
W. II. Maynard Replies to ii. p.
Jones on Bear Question

A recent article written by me. and
published in the Independent Repor-
| ter, expressing my views on the bear
question, and why they should be shot
in the summer months, seems to have
aroused comment, and | note that II.
?. Jones is one that does not agree
with me. In his article dated March
goth, he tells of a flock of forty-fiye
sheep which were nearly destroyed
by bear; but he says that the bear
was frightened off and never came
back, after two shots were fired at
him, both of which he seemed to
think went wild. Why wait until
the sheep were nearly destroyed, be-
fore frightening him away? The val
lie of nearly forty-five sheep in one
flock, is large compared to what it
would have cost to have bought and
set trap for Bruin, or hired a man
to watch the sheep for few nights.
Do we place bounty on all dogs.
because now and then one takes to
killing sheep? Do we kill all cats,
because some kill chickend? Be-
cause one man commits crime, do
we condemn the whole human race?
If bear has taken to killing sheep
in New Portland, why shoot a bear
in lockwood for his crime. The deer
in Maine are protected during GER
tain seasons, but IT, in close season a
deer is doing actual damage to crops,
the law allows the owner to destroy
haf int hot
he can shoot all the deer in Maine
The way / understand the law. any
person can destroy an animal regard
less of season, sex or specie, that is
doing actual damage to said person or
his property. And if said animal is
protected by law, persons killing or
destroying same, must report to the
Commissioner at Augusta, with an
account of the damage done. If
upon investigation, actual damage can
be shown. no action is taken. No
doubt that if the bear were protect
ed, it would apply to them as it does
to deer now.
Dogs and wildcat kill many sheep
each year. If this occurs in a vic
unity where a bear has been seen, or
even the track of one. Mr.. Bruin in
most cases is Immediately charged
with the crime. This is because per-
sons losing the sheep do not know
the signs of a bears work. and at
other times, no close. careful investi-
CATION is ever made.
Three years ago. John King of Rock
wood began to lose sheep; the story
went the rounds at once that bears
were killing his sheep. In company
with a visiting sportsman, | went to
his pasture where the sheep had been
killed, and there was not a single sign
of bears work to be found AS I
have trapped wild animals ever since
was old enough to set trap,
was familiar with bear signs 1t
did not take long to see that it was
the work of lynx or wildcat. / told
Mr. King to watch his sheep, which
he did; with the result that he caught
two of the cats stealing up on Them
while his boy reported seeing a pack
of five or six wildcats, or lynx in the
pasture at one time.
Once in while the bear. like man.
goes astray. but why condemn the
whole race of either for the depreda-
ton of few? ] have always hunt
ed have always loved the woods. and
have lived in them a great deal of
my time. and | cannot stand quietly
by and see the tragedy of today
the passing of the black bear-with-
out speaking a word in his behalf,
With wild life in our forests slowly
going. it seems to me a little less
than criminal, that the people of the
State of Maine should allow one of
the States greatest assets to become
extinct. The returns of the sheep
raising industry in Maine is very
small compared to the revenue re-
ceived from sportsmen and vacation
lists. A great part Of the sheep rails
ed in the State are sold to the visit
ing public, or eaten by those who
serve them. In this section all sheep
raised are sold to hotels and camps.
Drive the sportsman out by more
laws, and where is the market here?
The sportsman and vacationist that
visit this section help to support the
large wholesale houses in Portland
and other large cities, where the farm
err in the lower part of the State in
many instances finds his market
The caribou and moose are about
gone bear and deer are going; what
are we going to have left for the out
of-state hunter? Answer: Nothing.
What is he going to do? Why. go
to Canada or some place where they
have conserved their game. There
are farmers who love to hunt as we'll
as the visiting sportsman. This can
he proven each fall by the number
visiting Moosehead Lake territory
from the lower part of the state. Why
do they come here2 because we