Lawsuit Over Maine Bear Hunt Referendum Dismissed as Moot

Maine's highest court has rejected a lawsuit stemming from a failed referendum to ban bear hunting techniques deemed to be inhumane.

Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting hoped to ban the use of bait, dogs and traps to hunt bears, but voters rejected the idea at the polls in November 2014.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife campaigned against the changes, and the group claimed the state's campaign activities were illegal.

A Superior Court judge previously dismissed the lawsuit as moot. On Thursday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court agreed in a unanimous ruling.