AUGUSTA — Maine’s bears are on notice: an army of pint-sized hunters is coming their way this week.

The state’s youth bear hunt is Saturday. The youth day kicks off the annual hunting season and allows hunters who are younger than 16 a chance to try to harvest a black bear.

Youth hunters can hunt with a firearm, a bow and arrow, or crossbow. The use of hunting dogs is not allowed, but hunting with the use of bait is permitted. The day is open to licensed junior hunters.

The rest of the bear hunting season begins on Aug. 29 and runs until Nov. 26. The state held its first youth bear hunting day last year.