Save hunting in Maine
To the editor:
I am writing this letter mainly because I am tired of those outside of Maine telling those who love Maine how to live and govern our beautiful state. It is time those in Maine took back the Maine we love.
I am an old-fashioned Mainer who grew up loving deer hunting in the beautiful state of Maine. While in the military during the Vietnam era, I missed this beautiful state and what it stood for. The saying was, “So goes Maine, so goes the nation.” We are losing the old Maine.
I am writing this because there is too much misguided information floating around on the bear hunting issue on the ballot. I also believe some of those who are making the ads do not realize what is at stake. Let me fill you in. The people who are funding the “stop bear baiting” view are a group referred to as HSUS. This is the Humane Society of the United States. Their goal is to stop all manner of hunting, state by state.
For the Maine Guide making the ad against baiting, if they have their way, you will be out of a job. HSUS is a mega-million-dollar organization that prides itself on spending millions in states to kill hunting. The bear issue is just the start. Their assets are close to $200 million. They don’t care about Maine, only their agenda. They don’t want Maine to return to the old hunting ways. They don’t want any hunting at all.
Let me make a plea to all Mainers. If you hunt or fish or lobster or raise cattle, sheep, ducks or any other thing to eat or anything to do with animals, you need to go and vote ‘no’ on this issue. They won’t be happy until we are all living on vegetables. Don’t say this does not concern you.
If you value Maine tradition, don’t be fooled by their hype. Get out and vote ‘no’ and defeat the outsiders trying to tell Maine what to do. I may be old, but I am not stupid. As the old saying in Maine goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Our hunting management laws are not “broke.” They work just fine. Trust those who are regulating the hunt, even if we don’t always agree 100 percent.
Ambrose Rolfe
Township 10, Hancock County
