A Howland hunter has set a new Maine state record for the largest female black bear ever harvested.

On Sept. 16, Zach LaFreniere tagged a massive sow while hunting in Corinth with a .35 Whelen rifle. The bear had a dressed weight of 358 pounds and an estimated live weight of 429.6 pounds. It was weighed on a certified scale at The Village Market on Plymouth Road in Carmel, where it was registered and verified by state biologists.

LaFreniere’s bear surpasses the previous record set in 2022 by Brendan Gardner of East Bridgeport, Massachusetts, whose 395.5-pound whole-weight sow was taken in Andover while hunting with Dirigo Outfitters & Guide Service and Walker’s Guide Service. The recovery of Gardner’s bear required a multi-state effort, including registered Maine guides, hounds from Verm

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