Black bears are characterized as shy, secretive animals possessing considerable curiosity and displaying high levels of intelligence and exploratory behavior. Black bears are generally active in the early morning and late evening; they may alter their activity pattern to exploit sources of artificial food, becoming nocturnal at camp grounds and dump sites. Nuisance activities are nearly always associated with artificial food sources (beehives, campgrounds, and livestock).<br><br>
The lifespan of black bears in the wild can be twenty-five years or more <br><br>The common name of the black bear is misleading. Though black bears east of the Mississippi are predominantly black, in the west various shades of black, brown, cinnamon, as well as blond pelage are common. A small patch of white hair called a blaze is often found on the chest.<br><br>
Bear hunting in Arizona is like no other bear hunt in the world.<br><br>
In Arizona we hunt bear in the cactus. One of the bears favorite foods is the Prickly Pear cactus fruit, which happen to ripen around the same time the fall bear season opens. During this time the bears are easier to locate by glassing since most of the prickly pear cactus are located in open country. Not all bears travel down to the prickly pear cactus, some prefer the higher juniper, oak, and pine covered country of Arizona. The most productive way of hunting bear in this thicker environment is by calling. The calling is done by using a predator call, much like calling coyotes. This method is a heart pounding experience that you will not soon forget.
History:
Black bears are the most common and widely distributed of the three North American bears. Historically, black bears occurred in all forested habitats in North America, including Mexico. The species has been extirpated from many eastern and mid-western states, but still occurs in 38 states, 11 Canadian provinces, and seven Mexican states.<br><br>
Bear hunting has a long history in Arizona. As late as 1928, bears were classified as predatory animals and could be shot or trapped at any time. In 1929, however, a new “game code” classified bears of all kinds as big game, provided a month-long open season, and prescribed a bag limit of one. Bears could not be trapped, but they could be taken with dogs. Later years were even more restrictive; cubs were protected in 1934, and in 1936, the bear season was closed south of the Gila River. <br><br>
The status of bears deteriorated drastically during World War II. In 1942 all of the state’s refuges were open to bear hunting and the season was reopened in Cochise and Graham counties at the request of stockmen. In 1944, month-long fall and spring hunts were authorized. The following year, bears lost their designation as game animals, and in 1949 a year-long season was authorized for Apache, Greenlee, Graham, and eastern Coconino counties, except during the seasons for other big-game species. After reinstating spring and fall bear seasons in 1950, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission again opted for year-long seasons from 1951 to 1953.
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After 1954, bear regulations became more restrictive, tags were required to take one, and in 1968 the black bear was again classified as big game. This designation was appropriate as hunter interest in the species was increasing. Hunt success varied with weather conditions and population vagaries, but annual bear harvests ranged from 131 to 313 for the years 1964 through 1980. Relatively few bears were taken under the stock-taking clause, most of them being taken by sport hunters. Concern about the bear’s relatively low reproductive rate caused the Department to monitor the bear harvest more closely. Accordingly, mandatory checkout procedures were initiated in 1980. Other recent changes in regulations have included the authorization of a permit-only spring season in select units, the elimination of bearbaiting as a method of take, and unit harvest objectives in which the season is closed after a certain number of female bears are taken.
Life Span:
Size:
When standing, a male black bear can be more than 6 feet tall
Habitat:
In Arizona the black bear is found in most woodland habitats, including pinyon-juniper, encinal, coniferous forest, and chaparral. An interesting footnote to black bear distribution in Arizona is the absence of any sizeable population of black bears north of the Colorado River. <br><br>Chaparral pine forests and aspen-fir pine forests
Range:
7-50 sq. miles<br>4K-10K ft <br>forest areas throughout Arizona
Reproduction:
2
Population:
Hunting Information:
General<br>Aug - Dec <br><br>
Archery<br>
Aug - Sept/Oct
<br><br>
96 total tags in 2005 Bag Limit: one per year
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