Does the (baiting) program bring in significant revenue and is it needed to manage bears?
Although overall participation in hunting in Maine is declining slightly, sales of bear permits have risen from 10,133 permits in 1992 to 15,252 in 2002. Nonresidents purchased nearly half of the permits last year (resident 7,855, nonresident 7,372, Indian 25). The fiscal impact of the early bear season on the Department is significant because of the number of permits sold. Current license and permit sales are summarized below.
