Bear Hunting Newsletters . . .

The 2023 season started out Great! Opening night we had a game pole full of bear which was what kicked off a great season for us! The season continued to produce, but mother nature sure was going to put hunters and guides to the test!

Starting early spring, our weather was horrible! Rain storm after rain storm that never seemed to end made for an unpredictable fall! The woods were saturated, which made natural nut crop flourish! The berry crop was plentiful but was a short season due to the rain rotting the fruit which was perfect timing for us! As our bear season started, the bears were just starting to transition from the berry crop to the nut crop which made for a productive season!

Be sure to read “The Bear Den” — Brandon helping Maine’s Bear biologists locate a den and collar a sow and two cubs.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2023 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 11 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 3 MB).

Opening day of bear season started out with a Bang! Eight bear were brought back to the game pole and many other hunters seeing bear! The whole season continued to produce a very busy game pole.

The 2022 season early on looked like it was going to be a great season. Mother Nature provided a drought through the spring and summer which dried up the mast crops of beech nuts, acorns and mountain ash berries that bear usually forage on. In turn, there was not a lot of other food in the woods for the bear.

Be sure to read “How Tough are Bear” — A real brute of a bear came in and a good shot put it down. Only when we retrieved the bear dis we discover just how tough a bear can be.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2022 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 11 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 3 MB).

Nothing says “great season” like a full game pole. Opening night we saw 20 bear, harvested a total of 8, and passed up many others.

The 2021 season had started out in a battle with Mother Nature! We had a very dry spring which usually means no natural food. But as unpredictable as the Maine weather is, we got just enough rain to make the natural food flourish. Beech nuts and mountain ash berries were plentiful, and oak were loaded with nuts, all of which typically pulls the bear toward natural food.

The bear loved Foggy Mountain’s great bait and our prime stand locations plus a few of Brandon’s old tricks led to our most successful year yet!

Bottom line, we had a record breaking, busy and fun season here at Foggy Mountain.

Read “The Misfire” — Rene, a first-time hunter with Foggy Mountain, had an experience that would turn anyone’s stomach into knots!

Read “Ear Tag #1266” — Lewis Bontrager of Plymouth, Indiana, not only harvested a beautiful boar with a huge white blaze on his chest, but it also had ear tags and tattoos!

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2021 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 9 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 2 MB).

The 2020 bear season was one to remember! Despite this year’s travel concerns, hunters braved the new “travel rules” to “self-isolate” in Maine’s vast forest, and sitting quietly in the woods made for perfect “social distancing.”

The hot, dry weather resulted in a shortage of natural food which led to significantly more bear activity at our bait sites. And the bear loved what we had to offer. Add in some great shot placement, and many nights ended with multiple bear to process.

Nothing says “great season” like a full game pole. Bottom line, we had a record breaking, busy and fun season here at Foggy Mountain.

Share Your Heritage

We all recognize how important getting youths involved in hunting is to preserving our hunting traditions, skills and privileges. Of equal importance is the need for us to include and encourage older hunters. Take your dad or granddad too. The rewards will exceed your highest hopes.

Read “Caribbean Cruise or Bear Hunt – Which Would You Choose?” Richard Hott had a great anniversary cruise planned for his wife. Unfortunately, along came the pandemic and plans had to change. So, what did Richard do?

Read “Take Your Father Hunting! – Cress’ Truly Memorable Hunt” Both Cress Jr and Sr harvested their bear just 24 hours apart. It is a memory that we are sure they will not forget, and likely will be talked about often!

Read “Take Your Son Hunting! – Scott’s & Kyle’s ‘Double’” Father and son both scored on the same evening of the hunt, just hours apart! But whose bear was bigger?

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2020 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 9 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 2 MB).

With a very wet spring and summer, Mother Nature poured out a mast crop of every nut and berry known to mankind. Even though the mast crop was big, the bear activity was still high at the bait sites. As usual, the bear loved what we had to offer.

Many bear came to make sure the bait was still there, but they didn’t stay long. Good shot placement makes for a great recovery…and a full game poll. Many nights ended with multiple bear to process and nothing says “great season” like a full game pole.

Read “Secrets to Bear Hunting Success.” Foggy Mountain defines success as “bear on the pole.” The reasons for our success are due to many factors. Here are a few factors we focus on when selecting stand locations.

Read “9 Minute Bear.” Dennis proved the old wisdom that as soon as you hit the woods, always be ready. Bear are very unpredictable and you never know what might happen. As he got part way into his stand, he could see a bear paralleling him. As the bear moved towards the bait site, Dennis moved too. Eventually Dennis was able to get into position…

Read “Foggy Mountain Tales – Honeymoon Pact”.” This couple chose to bear hunt with us for their honeymoon. When planning their trip, they made a pact that whoever killed the bigger bear would get to have it mounted. Find out what happened…

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2019 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 9 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 2 MB).

We started the season at our our Ebeemee Lake base camp with a fantastic steak and Maine Lobster feast that was a big hit.

Read “Secrets to Bear Hunting Success.” Foggy Mountain defines success as “bear on the pole.” The reasons for our success are due to many factors. Here are a few.

Read “More Explorations With Al.” Our good friend and long time hunter Albert Gardner continued his annual quest for a massive Maine black bear…and some of Maine’s tiniest mammals. Al had a very successful year for both his annual bear hunt and his small mammal trapping exploits.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2018 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 10 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 2 MB).

Our new base camp at Ebeemee Lake was a huge success! This long time Foggy Mountain goal is at a prime location right in the middle of our Maine Highlands hunting territory. Hunters loved being so much closer to their hunting stands.

We celebrated our new base camp with a fantastic steak and Maine Lobster feast that was a big hit.

Read “4 Vital Tips for Your Bear Hunting Success.” Hunters often ask what will help result in a successful hunt. We’ve seen and learned much over the years, and last fall’s hunt showed that these tips will make your next bear hunt even better.

The bear population is still climbing and the bear sign we are seeing in our territory indicates that the 2018 season will be fantastic.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2017 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 11 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 2 MB).

Thanks to all our hunters for a great 2016 season. Maine’s bear population has continued to grow and all signs in the woods indicate that the 2017 season will be just as awesome!

Our 2017 season will see us at our new base camp at Ebeemee Lake. This was a long time Foggy Mountain goal, and puts our Maine Highlands hunters much closer to their hunting stands.

Vole Hunting? Ever wonder about those tiny critters rustling under the leaves while you sit in your stand? We have some answers. Actually, Al Gardner has them. Check out this fascinating Foggy Mountain bear hunting story.

Wildlife Experts Say “Take More Bear” – Foggy Mountain intentionally under harvests the bear in our hunting areas, and the population has continued to increase. The State’s bear biologists estimate that the areas of Maine where we hunt have population densities well over one bear per square mile. As part of Maine’s deer management plan, Biologists at Maine’s Fish & Wildlife Department continue their request for hunters to kill more bear.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2016 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 9 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 1.9 MB).

The bear population and all signs in the woods indicate that the 2016 season will be awesome! We’ve even added 88,000 adres to our hunting territory.

I started Foggy Mountain when I was 18 — hard to imagine! Back then, I was ten feet tall and had a black beard. The hunting world soon became infected with my excitement for black bear hunting, and black bear graduated from vermin status to the honor of trophy game!

I am very excited to introduce you to Brandon Bishop. He has a lot more hunting experience than I had then. He was very fortunate to have plenty of bear, deer, coyote and turkeys right in his back yard. And he is so full of energy that I can’t even hope to keep up – and I thought I was fierce in the woods! Talented young guides like Brandon are rare, and we are lucky to have him take over the Foggy Mountain operations.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Spring 2016 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 5.3 MB).

Our fall hunters were treated to the added expertise and awesome energy of Wayne’s son Jason Bosowicz.

The huge bear we knew were on bait held up in the swamps and bogs until the temperatures dropped a few degrees in the late day. Problem was, it was so hot it did not cool down until after shooting hours. Subsequently, during those days we took some smaller bear.

To the pleasure of many Foggy Mountain hunters, most days they got into plenty of bear and some took a real nice one too! Check out our year-end newsletter for pics and info.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2015 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 550 KB).

Unusually hot weather gave us a fit for a handful of days. The huge bear we knew were on bait held up in the swamps and bogs until the temperatures dropped a few degrees. Problem was, it was so hot it did not cool down until after shooting hours. Subsequently, during those days we took some smaller bear.

To the pleasure of many Foggy Mountain hunters, most days they got into plenty of bear and took some real nice ones too! Check out the photos.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2014 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 13.7 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 2.7 MB).

Mother nature cooperated with fairly cool weather, but she provided bear in many areas with an abundance of natural nut and berry crops. Wayne loves to face mother nature’s challenges and was ready to apply his knowledge of black bear biology, his many years of hunting them, his strategies for selecting bait and stand sites, and of course his famous scents and lures.

Good shots by good hunters kept the game pole in constant use during the 2013 season. We had a few dads and sons, along with dad and daughter teams. Ages were 10 years old to 16 and up. We even had grandfathers and their grandsons, and at least one mom and her son both had a successful hunt.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2013 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 19 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 3 MB).

Foggy Mountain’s Fall 2012 bear hunting season turned out to be a dandy. The season brought near ideal bear hunting conditions, in terms of both weather and natural food sources.

Wayne’s team of Master Guides had prepared many new sites and stands as Wayne directed. To everyone’s pleasure, Foggy Mountain’s hunters had plenty of shooting opportunities and took some beauties too!

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2012 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 11 MB).

Click here to download a Lo-Res version of Newsletter (pdf, 2 MB).

Foggy Mountain’s Fall 2011 bear hunting season opened with threats from mother nature – Ever present shifts in weather patterns, and plentiful natural nuts and berry crops. Conditions like these really challenge a guide and separates those who are dedicated full time bear hunters like Wayne Bosowicz from those who are part-time or inexperienced.

Wayne loves a challenge and was ready to apply his knowledge of black bear biology, his many years of hunting them, his strategies for selecting bait and stand sites, and of course his famous scents and lures. To the surprise of many, Foggy Mountain’s hunters got into plenty of bear and took some nice ones too!

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2011 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 6.1 MB).

Foggy Mountain’s Fall 2011 bear hunting season is shaping up to be a great one. Check out our latest tips about bear hunting and preparing for your fall bear hunt.

The bear population and all signs in the woods indicate that our 2011 bear hunt will be awesome! Preparations have been in motion since August 2010. In addition to our already established and productive bait sites, 2011 will bring even more land area, and new ground blinds and tree stands.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Spring 2011 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 2.0 MB).

Our Fall 2010 bear hunting season turned out to be a dandy both in terms of bear seen and taken, and for adventures logged into notebooks and photo albums. Thanks to all of our hunters for a great 2010 season. We look forward to seeing all of you again.The Fall 2010 newsletter covers highlights and photos from our 2010 Bear Hunts, a great story about father-son bear hunts, and info about our plans for 2011 and 2012.

The bear population and all signs in the woods indicate that the 2011 & 2012 seasons will be awesome! Our preparations for 2011 have been in motion since August 2010. In addition to our already established and productive bait sites, 2011 & 2012 will bring even more land area, and new ground blinds and tree stands.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Fall 2010 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 4.6 MB).

Our bear hunting season is coming right up. The Spring 2010 newsletter covers tips for hunting black bear, and info about our plans for the fall season.

Click here to download Foggy Mountain’s printable Spring 2010 Bear Hunting Newsletter (pdf, 1.3 MB).