Guided Black Bear Hunts with Hounds
Get up close with an Arizona black bear. Three-day fall hound hunts in pine and oak country, with most tags sold over the counter.
- 3-day hunts
- Aug to Dec
- OTC tag (most hunts)
- Trained hounds
- Guided price
- $4,500
- Length
- 3 days
- Season
- Aug to Dec 30
- Tag
- OTC (most hunts)
- Method
- Hounds
- Bag limit
- 1 per year
Up close and personal
Arizona bears live in thick pine, oak, and manzanita where spot-and-stalk is tough. Our hound team finds a fresh track, runs the bear, and trees or bays it. You get close, judge the bear, and choose whether to take it.
That matters in Arizona, where each hunt has a female harvest limit. Treed bears can be judged for size and sex before the shot, so we can focus on mature boars.
What to expect
- Early startBears move in the cool of the morning. We are checking for sign at first light.
- Strike and chaseWhen the dogs strike, the race is on through timber and canyons.
- The tree or bayYou follow on foot to the dogs, which can mean steep, rough ground.
- Your decisionLook the bear over, and take the shot when it is right.
Three days is usually enough. If we need a little longer to get you on a bear, we can extend.
Arizona bear tag basics
- Most hunts are over the counter. A nonpermit tag is sold by license dealers. Some spring hunts are draw only.
- One black bear per calendar year.
- Female harvest limits. When a hunt's sow limit is reported, the unit closes at sundown the following Wednesday.
- After the harvest: report within 48 hours, and present the skull and hide, with proof of sex attached, within 10 days.
Check unit status on the AZGFD harvest tracker and the current AZGFD black bear rules before your hunt. We help every client get it right.
$4,500 for a 3-day guided bear hunt
- Your guide and the full hound team
- Three days of hunting, extendable if needed
- Help with tags, reporting, and inspection
- Fully outfitted option: add $200 per day for lodging, meals, and transportation
Licenses and tags are purchased separately from AZGFD.
Bears and hounds
Black bear hunt FAQ
Can I buy an Arizona bear tag over the counter?
For most bear hunts, yes. A nonpermit tag is available from license dealers. Some spring bear hunts require a permit-tag through the draw. We will tell you which applies to your dates.
When do you run bear hunts?
Our hound bear hunts run in the fall, from early August through December 30, depending on quotas and open areas.
Why can a bear unit close early?
Arizona sets a female harvest limit for each bear hunt. When that number of sows is reported, the unit closes at sundown the following Wednesday. We watch the harvest tracker closely and plan dates around it.
How many bears can I take?
One black bear per calendar year.
How long is a bear hunt?
Three days. If we need a little longer to get you on a bear, we can usually extend, but we rarely need to.
What happens after I take a bear?
Report the harvest online within 48 hours, then present the skull and hide, with proof of sex attached, within 10 days.
Check open dates
Fall bear dates are limited by quotas and open units. Call Doug or send your details and we will call you back.