Every August, black bears in Maine's woods may find a mouthwatering surprise waiting for them among the trees: Barrels overflowing with old doughnuts, pastries, molasses, and leftover deep-fryer oil.

It's a rare bear that doesn't hang around to chow down on such temptations. Some will even come back for more. But a few weeks later, when bear-hunting season opens, those animals receive an altogether different surprise at the so-called bait barrels: Deadly gunshots or arrows from hunters who are hiding nearby.

For decades, Maine hunters have employed baiting to bag a bruin. But that could change on Tuesday, when Maine voters will decide whether or not to keep the practice.

Proponents of a ballot initiative to outlaw the practice say it's