Campbell says that the bear population is lower then what it was thought last year. I'm no expert in wildlife population counting, but in my area where I hunt I got pictures of 4 different bears within 30yds of my treestand taken with my cam-trekker from mid August thru mid September 2004. Matter of fact I got more pics of bears then I do of deer. 4 bears in one general area tells me that the population taken before the hunt last year is right on the money.