For general Bay State travel information, visit www.massvacation.com, or call (617) 973-8500.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
About 4,900 bears are roaming the Granite State. Bear numbers in many bear-management regions are at or above the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's objectives.

Making predictions for the 2007 season, NHFGD Bear Project leader Andrew Timmins said, "Hunter success will depend largely on food abundance. Hunter success will decline if food is abundant and will increase if food is limited. However, prospects look excellent, as we have strong bear populations across most regions of the state. Despite food conditions, scouting for bear activity prior to the start of the season will increase the chances of success."

New Hampshire's bruin numbers have remained steady in recent years. Timmins said that each bear-management region has a specific population objective outlined in the state's Big Game Population Management Plan through 2015. The population objectives of the plan reflect the density of bears the public finds desirable in each region.

Bear-season dates are set every other year. Wildlife managers manipulate season lengths and method of harvest (stalking, baiting, hound hunting) to attain a level of harvest that meets the population objectives.

In regions where the current population is over the target number, hunters can expect more liberal seasons, in the hopes of elevating harvest rates and lowering the bear population to a more desirable level.

If wildlife managers want to beef up bear numbers in certain regions, season lengths are restricted to curb harvest numbers.

"The greatest challenge in bear management is keeping bear populations at levels that are consistent with the public's desires," Timmins said.

"Essentially, regional population objectives represent social carrying capacity. The frequency of bear-human conflicts is one of the most significant factors in determining bear population levels. We strive to prevent the bear population from growing to the point where the level of bear-human conflicts becomes unacceptable to the public."

Keeping bear numbers at or below what society can tolerate prevents the public from forming negative attitudes toward bears, Timmins said.

"The department works hard to educate the public on ways to reduce or prevent bear-human conflicts. This effort increases the public's appreciation for and tolerance of bears and allows us to have more bears on the landscape."

During the 2006 season, hunters took 351 bears -- about 7 percent of the total population. The harvest was down 37 percent from the preceding five-year average of 556 bears.

Timmins said the abundance of natural fall foods, especially beechnuts, hurt hunter-success rates. When food is plentiful, bears travel less while feeding, reducing their vulnerability to hunters.

In years of poor mast production, bears roam far and wide in search of food, increasing their odds of running into hunters. This is a long-term trend in the Granite State: High harvests occurred during poor food years (1995, 2003 and 2004), and low harvests were taken during bumper mast crop years (1996, 2002 and 2006).

New Hampshire's 2007 black bear season runs from Sep. 1 through Nov. 20, with seasons varying in length across New Hampshire's six bear-management regions. To hunt over bait, a Permit to Bait Wildlife and a map of the bait site must be filed with the local conservation officer before bait is placed.

Baiting permit applications are available at regional offices. The number of bait sites per hunter varies by wildlife management unit (WMU).

A permit is necessary to hunt with dogs (available by mail from NHFGD headquarters). Nonresidents must show proof that hunting with dogs is available to New Hampshire residents in their home state in order to obtain a reciprocal permit to run hounds in the Granite State.

Vermont's bear population density, about one bruin per three square miles, is one of the highest in the country.

Use of a rimfire rifle is illegal for bear hunting, as is a shotgun loaded with anything other than a single ball. For general Bay State travel information, visit www.massvacation.com, or call (617) 973-8500.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
About 4,900 bears are roaming the Granite State. Bear numbers in many bear-management regions are at or above the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's objectives.

Making predictions for the 2007 season, NHFGD Bear Project leader Andrew Timmins said, "Hunter success will depend largely on food abundance. Hunter success will decline if food is abundant and will increase if food is limited. However, prospects look excellent, as we have strong bear populations across most regions of the state. Despite food conditions, scouting for bear activity prior to the start of the season will increase the chances of success."

New Hampshire's bruin numbers have remained steady in recent years. Timmins said that each bear-management region has a specific population objective outlined in the state's Big Game Population Management Plan through 2015. The population objectives of the plan reflect the density of bears the public finds desirable in each region.

Bear-season dates are set every other year. Wildlife managers manipulate season lengths and method of harvest (stalking, baiting, hound hunting) to attain a level of harvest that meets the population objectives.

In regions where the current population is over the target number, hunters can expect more liberal seasons, in the hopes of elevating harvest rates and lowering the bear population to a more desirable level.

If wildlife managers want to beef up bear numbers in certain regions, season lengths are restricted to curb harvest numbers.

"The greatest challenge in bear management is keeping bear populations at levels that are consistent with the public's desires," Timmins said.

"Essentially, regional population objectives represent social carrying capacity. The frequency of bear-human conflicts is one of the most significant factors in determining bear population levels. We strive to prevent the bear population from growing to the point where the level of bear-human conflicts becomes unacceptable to the public."

Keeping bear numbers at or below what society can tolerate prevents the public from forming negative attitudes toward bears, Timmins said.

"The department works hard to educate the public on ways to reduce or prevent bear-human conflicts. This effort increases the public's appreciation for and tolerance of bears and allows us to have more bears on the landscape."

During the 2006 season, hunters took 351 bears -- about 7 percent of the total population. The harvest was down 37 percent from the preceding five-year average of 556 bears.

Timmins said the abundance of natural fall foods, especially beechnuts, hurt hunter-success rates. When food is plentiful, bears travel less while feeding, reducing their vulnerability to hunters.

In years of poor mast production, bears roam far and wide in search of food, increasing their odds of running into hunters. This is a long-term trend in the Granite State: High harvests occurred during poor food years (1995, 2003 and 2004), and low harvests were taken during bumper mast crop years (1996, 2002 and 2006).

New Hampshire's 2007 black bear season runs from Sep. 1 through Nov. 20, with seasons varying in length across New Hampshire's six bear-management regions. To hunt over bait, a Permit to Bait Wildlife and a map of the bait site must be filed with the local conservation officer before bait is placed.

Baiting permit applications are available at regional offices. The number of bait sites per hunter varies by wildlife management unit (WMU).

A permit is necessary to hunt with dogs (available by mail from NHFGD headquarters). Nonresidents must show proof that hunting with dogs is available to New Hampshire residents in their home state in order to obtain a reciprocal permit to run hounds in the Granite State.

Vermont's bear population density, about one bruin per three square miles, is one of the highest in the country.

Use of a rimfire rifle is illegal for bear hunting, as is a shotgun loaded with anything other than a single ball. For general Bay State travel information, visit www.massvacation.com, or call (617) 973-8500.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
About 4,900 bears are roaming the Granite State. Bear numbers in many bear-management regions are at or above the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's objectives.

Making predictions for the 2007 season, NHFGD Bear Project leader Andrew Timmins said, "Hunter success will depend largely on food abundance. Hunter success will decline if food is abundant and will increase if food is limited. However, prospects look excellent, as we have strong bear populations across most regions of the state. Despite food conditions, scouting for bear activity prior to the start of the season will increase the chances of success."

New Hampshire's bruin numbers have remained steady in recent years. Timmins said that each bear-management region has a specific population objective outlined in the state's Big Game Population Management Plan through 2015. The population objectives of the plan reflect the density of bears the public finds desirable in each region.

Bear-season dates are set every other year. Wildlife managers manipulate season lengths and method of harvest (stalking, baiting, hound hunting) to attain a level of harvest that meets the population objectives.

In regions where the current population is over the target number, hunters can expect more liberal seasons, in the hopes of elevating harvest rates and lowering the bear population to a more desirable level.

If wildlife managers want to beef up bear numbers in certain regions, season lengths are restricted to curb harvest numbers.

"The greatest challenge in bear management is keeping bear populations at levels that are consistent with the public's desires," Timmins said.

"Essentially, regional population objectives represent social carrying capacity. The frequency of bear-human conflicts is one of the most significant factors in determining bear population levels. We strive to prevent the bear population from growing to the point where the level of bear-human conflicts becomes unacceptable to the public."

Keeping bear numbers at or below what society can tolerate prevents the public from forming negative attitudes toward bears, Timmins said.

"The department works hard to educate the public on ways to reduce or prevent bear-human conflicts. This effort increases the public's appreciation for and tolerance of bears and allows us to have more bears on the landscape."

During the 2006 season, hunters took 351 bears -- about 7 percent of the total population. The harvest was down 37 percent from the preceding five-year average of 556 bears.

Timmins said the abundance of natural fall foods, especially beechnuts, hurt hunter-success rates. When food is plentiful, bears travel less while feeding, reducing their vulnerability to hunters.

In years of poor mast production, bears roam far and wide in search of food, increasing their odds of running into hunters. This is a long-term trend in the Granite State: High harvests occurred during poor food years (1995, 2003 and 2004), and low harvests were taken during bumper mast crop years (1996, 2002 and 2006).

New Hampshire's 2007 black bear season runs from Sep. 1 through Nov. 20, with seasons varying in length across New Hampshire's six bear-management regions. To hunt over bait, a Permit to Bait Wildlife and a map of the bait site must be filed with the local conservation officer before bait is placed.

Baiting permit applications are available at regional offices. The number of bait sites per hunter varies by wildlife management unit (WMU).

A permit is necessary to hunt with dogs (available by mail from NHFGD headquarters). Nonresidents must show proof that hunting with dogs is available to New Hampshire residents in their home state in order to obtain a reciprocal permit to run hounds in the Granite State.

Vermont's bear population density, about one bruin per three square miles, is one of the highest in the country.

Use of a rimfire rifle is illegal for bear hunting, as is a shotgun loaded with anything other than a single ball.