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Spot and Stalk Black Bear Hunts
We are pleased to offer a unique bear hunting experience in Arizona! When searching for black bear hunts, many people would not ever think to look to Arizona. But, from recent experiences and publicity, more and more hunters are coming to realize that this State can provide some of the best trophy black bear hunting in the West. A glance at recent entries in the record books will show that Arizona has produced many "book" black bears. It is considered as a top choice for record-class bear hunting. Though the quantity of black bears in Arizona is not high by anyone's standards, the quality of the bears (whether it be color, body size, or record book potential) is why many bear hunters have come here. The Arizona black bear comes in all color varieties (commonly referred to as "color phases"). Colors range from blonde, cinnamon, chocolate, to coal black. Seventy-five percent of the bears we have harvested over the past couple decades have been colored with chocolate brown being dominant. Arizona black bears live in the thick timber at higher elevations most of the year, but during the months of August through September (our typical hunting season) some bears come out of the high country in search of fat-building food sources. Bears have a very large home range and have been known to travel as far as 100 miles to find isolated pockets of food. This always keeps us "on our toes" trying to locate them before season. Some Arizona black bears travel to the lower desert elevations of their mountain ranges looking for prickly pear cactus fruit, which is very sweet and high in calories. This phenomenon is often called "Bears in the Pears." Bears may also travel to areas with a high concentration of acorns, juniper berries, mesquite beans, or manzanita berries during times when they are not eating pears. What the bears are feeding on dictates where and how we hunt.
About Our Bear Hunts
As a secondary technique, we use calling. Some black bears prefer to stay in the mesquite, manzanita, oak and juniper slopes where they eat the beans, berries or acorns. These areas have thicker vegetation and allow for limited glassing. If this is where the bears are located at the time of your hunt, we may use limited glassing and a fawn in distress call trying to get a bear within shooting distance. Sitting water holes may also be used during this time of year. The bears we hunt are usually OLD and BIG! A few of our bear hunters have taken large males up to 500 pounds! Additionally, male bear rugs usually measure 6 to 7 feet (from nose to tail) with a couple taken up to 7.5 feet. The outfitter has taken the former #8 SCI World Record and has assisted a few clients in taking bears that measured in the top 50. If you fill your bear tag, the potential for it being a trophy specimen is very good. Success rates vary from year to year due mainly to food availability. Just like bear hunting anywhere, if the food is scarce, bears will be relatively concentrated. This increases our odds. If there is food everywhere, bears are spread out and harder to find, thus lowering our success. Some seasons have been 100% success (low food production years) and some seasons have had a much lower success (high food production years). Please note: Our hunts can be physically demanding at times because hunting is done in mountainous terrain. Hunters are encouraged to condition themselves before arrival in order to increase their odds. There is NO DRAW. Arizona fall black bear tags are over-the-counter (non-residents will purchase them by mail before arrival). Tag fee for non-residents: $237.50 and hunting license for non-residents is $151.25 ($388.75 total).
2012 Season Dates Our Arizona ARCHERY-ONLY Season Hunt Dates: August 24-28, 2012. Note: August Archery bear season has the added bonus of combo hunting deer (Coues or mule deer) at no additional charge. Our Arizona Rifle Season Hunt Dates: August 24-28, 2012 and October 5-9, 2012. Hunters meet us one day prior to hunting. Space is limited. We only accommodate 4 hunters at a time per camp. Contact us as soon as possible to reserve your spot.
Fully Guided & Outfitted Trophy Bear Hunts 2012 RATES
Description of Bear Package Package includes: accommodations (tent camps), meals, complimentary ride to camp if flying (pick-up/drop-off point: Tucson Airport Hotels Only), camp transportation, packing out of animal, trophy prep and a guide. A minimum 50% non-refundable deposit is required to book a hunt. The remaining balance is due at least 21 days prior to the hunt. We recommend cancellation insurance for all of our guests. Visit our policy page for more details. 1 on 1 means one hunter per guide. We do not offer 2 on 1 bear hunts. Each hunter has his own guide in order to increase the odds of harvesting. For those that own a camping trailer/pop-up and would like to bring it to camp to sleep in are more than welcome to do so, but we cannot discount the hunt any. It must be small and high enough to be pulled on rough dirt roads. If a hunter has not tagged by the scheduled end of hunt, there is an option of paying at a daily rate thereafter. Non-Hunter Fee: Some hunters like to bring along a buddy or family member to video their hunt or share the experience while they hunt. Invite your partner as a non-hunter or observer while on your guided bear hunt for a fee of $750.00. Cost for licenses and tags, butchering, shipping of meat, taxidermy, hotel stay before/after the hunt (if flying) are the hunter's responsibility. * Friday through Tuesday noon. All hunters arrive to camp on a Thursday. Flying hunters should get a flight into Tucson, AZ on Wednesday, get a hotel and we will pickup Thursday morning for a ride to camp. Flying hunters should get a flight out on Wednesday morning (hotel required). Watch an Archive of Bear Hunt Videos Be sure you visit our general info page. Also, read our bear stories for more feel of our hunts.
Latest Trophy Black Bear Photos
Wendy and Travis Habrock from Missouri with a nice Arizona Black Bear. This bear walked-up on us at 10 yards, but ran before we had time to react. He was shot at 170 yards a few minutes later. Read the article.
Paul Stikeleather from N. Carolina was guided by Bryan when he shot this big Arizona bear at 310 yards using a .300 Mag.
Mark DeJesse from California shot this nice boar Arizona Bear at 15 yards. Outfitter Pat glassed the bear at 1 mile and then guide Eliot used a predator call to bring him closer to the hunter.
George (G.O.) Heath from Georgia with a huge Arizona chocolate-colored bear (the dominant color).
Cameron Gulley of Texas with a cinnamon colored bear that was brought into 22 yards with a predator call.
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New Mexico Merriam's Turkey Hunts
Arizona Merriam's Turkey Hunts New Mexico Merriam's Turkey Outfitters and Guides Arizona Elk Guides Arizona Coues Deer Guides Arizona big horn sheep guides Arizona javelina guides Arizona Guided Hunts Outfitters Guides |
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Home | Hunts | General Info | Rates | Contact Us | Stories | Links | References | What to Bring | Video | Our Policy This website last updated: Jan. 27, 2012
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Arizona
Bear Guides and Outfitters
Our bear hunts are fair chase in the purist form! Dogs or bait are not used on
this hunt. We use two main techniques to harvest our bears. The primary hunting technique involves a spot and stalk method.
We hike to a good vantage point where a few square miles of terrain can be seen
at one time. When a bear is amongst the sparse vegetation, it can be
observed at
very long distances using high-powered binoculars. We occasionally spot bears up to 2 miles away since they
can stand out like a sore thumb.
Once a good bear is spotted, we plan our stalk. Rifle shots can
sometimes be across big canyons, so a Harris bipod, good high-power riflescope,
and a big, flat-shooting caliber is recommended. Lightweight rifles are
also needed in this rough terrain. We prefer to use .300
magnums or 7mm magnums topped with 4.5-14X or 6.5-20X variable scopes.
High weight-retention boat tail bullets (Barnes or Accubond) from 150g to 180g are perfect for this long range bear
hunting. Rifle shots average 300 yards. Archery hunters should be able to shoot accurately out to 50
yards, since the spot and stalk method is mainly used. Sitting water holes
is another common technique for our archery bear hunters. August Archery
bear season has the added bonus of combo hunting deer (Coues or mule deer) at no
additional charge.
