"I'm not sure why two traps were allowed, when only one bear may be taken by each trapper," Vashon said.

"That's been an issue for a long time. It occurs occasionally that hunters do catch two bears, and they need to contact a warden to release the unwanted bear.

"Some people have released the bears on their own, but only with smaller bears. The regulations change under consideration provides the opportunity to take care of that."

The 2007 general bear-hunting season is Aug. 27 through Nov. 24. Hunting with dogs is allowed from Sep. 10 through Oct. 26. Hunting over bait is allowed from Aug. 27 through Sept. 22.

Both a big-game hunting license and a bear permit are required from Aug. 27 through Oct. 26.

For more information on the Pine Tree State's bear-hunting opportunities, call (207) 287-8000, or visit www.maine.gov/ifw.

For a list of Maine guides, write the Maine Professional Guide's Association, P.O. Box 336, Augusta, ME 04332-0336. Or visit the group's Web site at www.maineguides.org.

For travel information, call the Office of Tourism at 1-888-624-6345, or visit www.visitmaine.com.

MASSACHUSETTS
In the Bay State, black bears have been regulated as a game animal since 1952. Substantial changes in the hunting seasons and a bear study conducted in 1970 have resulted in a rebound of the state's bruin population.

There were only 100 bears in Massachusetts in the early 1970s, but the estimated population is now over 3,000 animals. The bulk of the bruin population is in western Massachusetts, with a good number of bears in the central region. Bears are rare in the state's easternmost counties.

Last year, Massachusetts's hunters harvested 148 bears. This was the second-highest harvest over the past 11 years. Only the 153 bears taken by hunters in 2003 ranked higher.

Berkshire County yielded the highest harvest numbers, as it has every year since 1999. Most years, Franklin County comes in a close second in harvest numbers.

Bay State bear hunters must buy a $5 bear-hunting permit in addition to their regular hunting license. Non-residents must buy a non-resident big-game license plus the bear permit.

Massachusetts has a split bear season, with 17 days in September and 18 days in November. The September season is timed to coincide with agricultural harvests (especially corn), while the November season is the more traditional time for hunters who like to stalk the hardwood forests and remote ridge tops. Most bears are taken during the September season, but some good-sized, late-denning males are dropped in November.

Hunting over bait was outlawed in Massachusetts in 1970, and hunting with hounds was closed in 1996. Incidental hunting during the firearms deer season and the trapping of bears are also illegal. Hunters with bears on their minds must either utilize traditional bear-feeding territories or still-hunt through berry patches.

Stand-hunting is the more successful of the two methods, accounting for 75 to 80 percent of the harvest.

No matter which method hunters employ, pre-season scouting is a must. If natural foods such as acorns, beechnuts and cherries are scarce, bears are more likely to head for the nearest cornfield or orchard.

When you're scouting, look for tracks, trails and piles of scat, or spots where bears have bedded down. Bears often beat down a path into their favorite cornfields and berry patches. Also look for claw marks or bear "nests" in beech trees. Wily old males tend to avoid human food sources and prefer to hide out in dense cover such as laurel thickets or swamps. Check for bear sign around the edges of thickly covered areas.

Farmers whose crops are suffering bear damage will occasionally invite bear hunters onto their property. Check with dairy farmers who plant extensive fields of silage corn. Avoid livestock, don't block gates, don't interfere with crop harvests and you could have great hunting grounds for years to come!

The September season opens the day after Labor Day and ends on the third Saturday thereafter.

The November season opens on the first Monday and ends on the third Saturday thereafter. Only wildlife management zones (WMAs) 1 through 9 are open for bear hunting.

Each hunter may take only one bear per calendar year.

For more bear-hunting information, visit the MassWildlife Web site at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw, or phone (617) 626-1590.