From just a quick Google search Maine averages around 10k license sold and approximately 25% success rate.
Pa sells around 170k tags and has around a 2-3% success rate. Both States tag about the same amount of bear. But it takes PA allot more hunters to do it.
Not allowing bait and hounds makes a big difference.
PAs bear population is estimated at 20k and Maine's at over 30k. I couldn't find a solid number for Maine and that estimate was from 2014.
Maine is a smaller state as well. Although still pretty big.
All that to say... A good hunter can spend allot of time in good bear country in PA and not see a bear. Years(ask me how I know
). And to their credit: there are some guys who take multiple bear. But it's not common. There are plenty of hunters in Maine who take bear every year.
I figure it's only a matter of time for me. I see them almost every year during deer season. Just have to have one show up a week earlier.
-Jake