The vote is to ban the way bears are hunted in Maine. It will not ban bear hunting, yet, but would a first step toward that end many believe. Hunting bear by use of dogs and/or baiting bear are the two bigger issues. The Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife uses these methods of bear hunting as a means of protecting and maintaining a healthy bear population. Part of the fear is that if this vote passes it will greatly reduce the number of people hunting bear in Maine which is also a great assest economically to an already depressed state.
IMO the referendum will fail but those fighting the Humane Society of America's efforts has spent millions of dollars - millions that could have been used more productively.
I probably have left out many important issues in this debate but this is the short of it.