Black bear in AZ

[Coon007]

hey all
I hear that there is some good black bear hunting in arizona, how can somebody plan for a trip there and hunt them. (like the best place and season) thanks
in advance.  

[wingnut]

Coon,

Take a look at the AZ website.  Bear is a draw like most things in AZ.  You don't have much chance of getting a tag and have to buy a licence before you apply.

Mike

[Steve O]

Coon,

Mike did get one thing right; you have to buy a license first.  AZ bears are OTC.  They do have very good and big black bears and I know a few guys who do VERY well stalking them when they are feeding on the cactus blossoms.

Take a look at the rulebook:

 http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/regulations/07-08/07-08.pdf

[Coon007]

Kool where about do they hunt (what county)

[Steve O]

All over from Tuscon to Pinetop.  Predator calls work too.  You can also go on the Apache Reservations if you want to go guided.

[wingnut]

Dang I knew I should have looked it up myself.  Sorry about that, just passed on info that was given to me.

Mike

[Coon007]

so i just buy a license and try my luck that should be good i'll study up on that.

[oneshot1]

Howdy Coonoo7, For a "sky island" full of Black bear's try the Santa Ritas south of Tucson, you will have a very hard time finding a black one though, they seem to run more of a cinnimon to red color. They only had spring tags(5 years ago) but they may have fall/winter tags by now, no bait or dogs. Hot spots, the ridge fingers heading down into the campgrounds, parking areas, look for fresh turned over rocks in the dry stream-beds(bears are looking for grubbs/critters), use a fawn bleat, alot of the bear scat is full of deer hair. Good luck.

[AZStickman]

Actually Spring bear is a draw but fall bear is OTC and you can hunt until the sow harvest objectives are met for a particular unit..... Usually 1-3 sows.... You are required to call in every Friday after the Fall season starts to find out if the unit you are wanting to hunt is still open or if the objective has been met.......Like oneshot says baiting is not allowed but dogs can be used in some units....AZ is kind of a sleeper state for black bears with some of the biggest heads I've seen coming out of here...... Terry

[Steve O]

Terry,

I figured he was looking for fall, we are in summer here, so you guys have to be in sweltering...

Coon, I PMD you a couple names.

[Coon007]

thanks for the info guy's
oneshot color does not matter as long as it's a bear heck i'll take a pink one lol. I can't wait till spring but i'll be there during the fall hunt

[Coon007]

thanks for the info guy's
oneshot color does not matter as long as it's a bear heck i'll take a pink one lol. I can't wait till spring but i'll be there during the fall hunt

[Mark Maves]

I haven't lived in AZ since 95, but I went to college at NAU and spent 5 summers on a fire crew outside of Flag..I do not know what the seasons/draw/permit status of that area is, but I can tell you that Sitgreaves Mtn. and some of the areas around Kendrick had a few very large bears.  We spooked them up with the helicopter from time to time.. I would figure that Bill Williams would hold its share also.

[wingnut]

Thanks, Terry!!  I was thinking my old memory had slipped.  I knew there was a draw but didn't know about the OTC tags for the fall hunt.  Let's keep an eye on our elk area for available tags come fall.

Mike