Reports from around the Northeast are that the 2008 black bear harvest was down, not because of a lack of bears, but because natural food supplies were abundant and hunters were not. The good news is that, as a result, there is a bumper crop of well-fed black bears out there for hunters to harvest in 2009.

Each of New England's four bear- hunting states holds promise for a successful 2009 black bear season. Here's a look at what hunters can expect when the season opens this fall:

MAINE
The Pine Tree State boasts an estimated 23,000 black bears. Numbers are stable, and possibly rising. Because both bears and vast tracts of forested land are available, most traditional hunting methods are allowed, including hunting with dogs and over bait. Season dates vary by method, so always check current regulations before heading out.

Currently, an effort to review estimated black bear numbers is underway.

"We continue to monitor harvest levels and hunter effort, and monitor bears via radio telemetry studies in three different areas," said Jennifer Vashon, Bear Project leader with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "Last year, we asked hunters to voluntarily submit a tooth from bears they harvested. From those we can estimate the age of each harvested black bear. Hunters will be provided the age of the bear they harvest via the department's Web site this fall. After several years of obtaining the age of harvested black bears, we can develop an accurate estimate of the minimum size of Maine's bear population."

Vashon said she was pleased with the number of teeth donated in 2008 (about 1,000), especially since this program was new to check stations and hunters. She is hoping for even more donated teeth this fall. Hunters will again be asked to donate a bear tooth at check stations, and will be provided with an envelope in which to mail the tooth to Vashon, as well as instructions for tooth removal.

"We appreciate the hunters voluntarily submitting their bear teeth to us," Vashon said. "It's really important for us to get these so we can get another estimate of how bear populations are doing in the state.

"If this number is in line with other estimates (harvest and population monitoring of collared bears), this may be a more cost-effective monitoring effort," Vashon continued. "In 2007, we equipped 20 female black bears with GPS collars to estimate the number of bears per square mile in northern Maine. We will equip another 20 female bears with GPS collars in eastern Maine in 2009, and 20 female bears in central Maine in 2010.

These density estimates are essential for providing current estimates of bear numbers in Maine. We will also obtain information on important habitats for bears from GPS locations taken from bears wearing GPS collars at different times of the year, and thereby learn more about bear movement patterns and the onset of denning."

While only preliminary numbers were in, Vashon said that the 2008 harvest would likely be fewer than 3,000 bears -- the lowest harvest on record in recent years.

"About 80 percent of the bears harvested in Maine are harvested by non-residents," Vashon said, "But non-resident hunter participation is declining, and that has been attributed to the tough economic times."

Vashon said that based on low bookings thus far for bear hunts in 2009, the department is expecting similar harvest numbers this fall.

"Weather conditions, availability of natural foods and hunter participation have the greatest influence on bear hunter success when habitat conditions and bear numbers are stable," she said.

Vashon said that northern and eastern regions of the state have especially abundant bear numbers.