AZ spring bear

[Northpark]

Anyone else doing AZ spring bear? It’s my first year in Arizona and while I know there are plenty of bears here I’m not really sure where to start on where to look. Water? Or a food source? I’ll take advice if anyone is feeling generous.

 

[Twilen74]

Following. I’ll be down there early April and have never been.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I tend to 1) either glass them up in the AM and figure out how to get a stalk on or 2) find their food source and setup an ambush.

Be mindful of ensuring that there are no cubs.

PS: Grab a lion tag if the quota has not been met.

 

[Northpark]

I tend to 1) either glass them up in the AM and figure out how to get a stalk on or 2) find their food source and setup an ambush.

Be mindful of ensuring that there are no cubs.

PS: Grab a lion tag if the quota has not been met.

What kind of food sources are they generally keying in on during the spring? I know in August it’s pears, October it’s acorns but what’s around in the spring?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

What kind of food sources are they generally keying in on during the spring? I know in August it’s pears, October it’s acorns but what’s around in the spring?

Greens early on to jumpstart their digestive system. From there whatever is around that they are in the mood for. Seen them eating left over acorns and manzanita beans in the spring and them passing the same in the fall.

 

[Professor]

I am planning a July hunt. I am assuming that by July they will be down and eating cactus pears. Can any experienced Arizona bear hunters confirm this?

 

[tyler75]

Pears won’t be ripe until August.
Sometimes they are ripe for opening weekend for the fall hunt and sometimes it’s the 2nd weekend


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[Professor]

Pears won’t be ripe until August.
Sometimes they are ripe for opening weekend for the fall hunt and sometimes it’s the 2nd weekend


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OK, thanks. What food sources should I look for and should they still be up high?

 

[SunDontShine]

nice. I plan to head out the first week of April in eastern AZ

 

[Weston]

Do you guys have draw tags? I’ll be in 35 with an archery draw tag.

 

[SunDontShine]

Do you guys have draw tags? I’ll be in 35 with an archery draw tag.

I'll be doing over the counter

 

[Professor]

Do you guys have draw tags? I’ll be in 35 with an archery draw tag.

OTC

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

I'm planning a trip down there next spring in early April
It's an intriguing hunt for sure
Make a vacation out of it

 

[Blackcow]

Make sure you keep an eye on the female harvest quota either online or the phone number, particularly if you’re waiting until July. Many of those hunts will get closed until they re open August 7th.

 

[Professor]

Make sure you keep an eye on the female harvest quota either online or the phone number, particularly if you’re waiting until July. Many of those hunts will get closed until they re open August 7th.

Someone just told me the same thing in a FB group. Can I expect any units to still be open in July?

 

[Blackcow]

Maybe? Probably not, but maybe.

 

[Professor]

Maybe? Probably not, but maybe.

Now it looks like mid April if we can do it and if not we will have to wait till fall.

 

[Blackcow]

I’d just hate for you to make plans just to have them get blown out on you.

 

[Professor]

I’d just hate for you to make plans just to have them get blown out on you.

Thanks. It is a steep curve learning another state's management system. We will do it when we have multiple units still open. I am sure we could do August or October. When are the cactus fruit ripe?

 

[Blackcow]

Around me, mid August. You always have some earlier and some later, but a good average.