BUCKET LIST TRAPPING URSUS AMERICANUS
My 2020-2021 trapping season started a little different than most years. Instead of setting dog-proofs for raccoons in Illinois or bobcats in South Carolina, my season started in Maine. Nope, I wasn’t going after their abundant population of beavers, otters or mink. I was going after one of their abundant black bears.
Maine is the only state in the United States where it is legal to trap bears. Both a trapping license and a bear trapping permit are required. Sure, you hear stories of bears getting caught in a coyote traps throughout the year. And as much as I have always wanted to trap a bear, I hope I never catch one in a coyote trap. I could only imagine the trouble that it would be to release an angry bear of any size.
After deciding in late 2019 that I wanted to go bear trapping, I began my search for a reputable guide. While searching the web for bear guides, I was a little surprised by the number of guides offering the service. More than I thought there would be. After finding a few that looked promising, I began stalking their Facebook pages to see how their 2019 season went. One guide, in particular, stood out to me. Not just for trapping, but
