Black Bear Hunting History of Arizona

Arizona has an interesting history when it comes to bear hunting. Going back to 1928 is where the story will start. Around this time black bears were being classified as predatory animals; allowing them to be trapped or shot at any given time. This all changed in 1929 with a new game code which changed black bear classification to big game. Along with the classification change came a month-long only hunting season with hunters being limited to one harvest. You were able to use dogs to hunt them, but weren't allowed to trap them. As the years passed more restrictions came into effect. Cubs were protected in 1934 and hunting season was closed south of the Gila River in 1936.

The period during World War 2 was devastating to black bears. At the request of stockmen, in 1942 all state refuges were open to bear hunting. Counties like Cochise and Graham had also opened black bear hunting seasons. Around 1944 both a fall and sprint hunt were created and lasted a full month. In 1949 bears were able to be hunted year long in Apache, Greenlee, Graham, and eastern Coconino counties, except during the seasons for other big-game species; this was due to their change in designation as a game animal. Between 1951 and 1953 the Arizona Game & Fish Department Commission opted once again for a full year season on black bear hunting.

It was really in 1954 when major efforts came about to protect bears and the hunting sport behind the, More regulations were enacted with bigger restrictions. Limits were set to one black bear per seasons and black bears were officially classified as big game again in 1968. This was crucial since the interest of hunters for black bears was increasing greatly. Between 1964 and 1980 the average bear harvest was around 131 to 313; however, this varied with population vagaries and weather conditions.

Concern was building due to the interest in bear hunting and the low reproductive rates. This came to the attention of the Game & Fish Department and they started to monitor bear harvests more closely. The mandatory checkout procedure was started in 1980, along with other regulations such as authorization of a permit-only spring season in select units, the elimination of bear baiting as a method of take, and unit harvest limits in which the season is closed after a certain number of female bears are taken. As of July 2006, bears hunters are required to present their harvest to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for inspection.