At the time of this writing, final harvest figures for 2005 were not available. But in early October of last fall, the harvest for weeks 1 through 4 was estimated at 1,872 to 2,908 bears, using the regression equation first developed in 2002. That equation is based on fifteen years of bear-harvest data collected from registration stations after the first four weeks of the season. The 2005 figure during that period compares to 3,470 taken during the same period in 2004. Even with an additional 305 bears added to the October 2005 figure -- which is the average for weeks 5 through 13 in recent years -- the 2005 harvest should be between around 2,350 and 3,050, the lowest harvest since 1998, or up to 40 percent fewer than in the past five years. Considering last year's low harvest, Maine hunters can expect plenty of bear this fall and plenty of opportunities to bag one.

This year, the 13-week general season will open Aug. 28 and run through Nov. 25. As in the recent past, however, a large percentage of the harvest will undoubtedly be taken during the baiting season, which opens Aug. 28 and ends Sept. 23. Traditionally, about 80 percent of the annual harvest is taken during this period.

Hunting with hounds will begin Sept. 11 and run through Friday, Oct. 27. During these periods, a bear-hunting permit is required in addition to a big-game hunting license. The cost is $28 for resident hunters and $68 for non-residents, not including an agent's fee. Hunters may take a bear on their regular big-game license without the special bear license through the firearms deer season, which opens Oct. 30 and runs through Nov. 25.

Statistically, bears are harvested just about everywhere in Maine. According to the most recent figures, bears were taken in 27 of the state's 30 wildlife management districts (WMDs). The only areas that produced no bears were WMDs 22, 25 and 30, which include the mid-coast region and the offshore islands.

Leading the way were WMDs 11, 4, 8, 1 and 6, all in Aroostook, northern Piscataquis and northern Somerset counties. These counties offer some of the best bear habitat in Maine, have a high concentration of bear guides and outfitters and are perennial top producers. Combined, these districts and counties produced 1,480 bears in 2004, more than a third of the state's total harvest.

Other top-producing districts were WMDs 2, 3 and 5, all in Aroostook County (the top-producing bear county in the state, with 33 percent of the total harvest), and District 19 in Washington County. Each produced over 200 bears.

This doesn't mean to suggest that other Maine counties are lacking in opportunities. For the past several years, bear have been harvested in a dozen of Maine's 16 counties.

Starting this year, a new type of hunting challenge will be available to bear hunters. In 2005, the Maine Legislature legalized the use of crossbows during Maine's bear seasons and during the firearms deer season. Any crossbow must have a draw of 100 to 200 pounds, and hunters must have successfully passed an archery and crossbow hunting safety course, or show satisfactory proof of having hunted with a crossbow from another state or province after 1979.