Arizona Black Bear

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ARIZONA STATE PAGE

Dates & Fees | Arizona Black Bear Hunting

Annual Schedule:
1st Tues in February: Elk & Antelope
1st Tues in June: Sheep, Bison, & Deer
1st Tues in October: Bison, Javelina, & Turkey
Nov 3, 2025: 2026 archery deer tags available (2,820 nonresident tags sold out in 17 minutes hours in 2024)

UP-FRONT FEES
Combo Hunting & Fishing License $160.00
Youth Combo Hunting & Fishing License (Ages 10-17) $5.00
Application Fee or Bonus Point Only Fee (Per Species) $15.00
PointGuard Option (Per Species) $10.00
PointGuard+ Option (All Species) $25.00
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Bighorn Sheep (Desert or Rocky) $1,800.00
Bison (Bull or Any) $5,400.00
Bison (Cow/Yearling) $3,250.00
Bison (Yearling) $1,750.00
Elk (Bull or Cow) $650.00
Elk (Youth Cow Only) $50.00
Deer (Draw Permit) $300.00
Deer (Archery OTC) $300.00
Deer (Youth Only) $25.00
Antelope $550.00
Javelina $100.00
Javelina (Youth Only) $15.00
Turkey $90.00
Turkey (Youth Only) $10.00

UP-FRONT FEES
Combo Hunting & Fishing License $57.00
Youth Combo Hunting & Fishing License (Ages 10-17) $5.00
Application Fee or Bonus Point Only Fee (Per Species) $13.00
PointGuard Option (Per Species) $10.00
PointGuard+ Option (All Species) $25.00
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Bighorn Sheep (Desert or Rocky) $300.00
Bison (Bull or Any) $1,100.00
Bison (Cow/Yearling) $650.00
Bison (Yearling) $350.00
Elk (Bull or Cow) $135.00
Elk (Youth Cow Only) $50.00
Deer (Draw Permit) $45.00
Deer (Archery OTC) $45.00
Deer (Youth Only) $25.00
Antelope $90.00
Javelina $25.00
Javelina (Youth Only) $15.00
Turkey $25.00
Turkey (Youth Only) $10.00

ARIZONA DEER SEASON DATES
Archery Deer Summer OTC / Draw Aug 22 – Sep 11, 2025
Mule Deer Early Rifle Oct 24 – Nov 2, 2025
Coues Deer 1st Rifle Oct 24 – 30, 2025
Coues Deer 2nd Rifle Nov 7 – 13, 2025
Mule Deer Late Rifle Nov 21 – 30, 2025
Coues Deer 3rd Rifle Nov 28 – Dec 7, 2025
Coues Deer 4th Rifle Dec 17 – 31, 2025
Archery Deer December OTC Dec 17 – 31, 2025
Archery Deer January OTC Jan 1 – 31, 2026
ARIZONA ELK SEASON DATES
Bull Elk Early Archery Sep 12 – 25, 2025
Bull Elk Early Muzzleloader/Rifle Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2025
Bull Elk Late Archery Nov 14 – 27, 2025
Bull Elk Late Muzzleloader/Rifle Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2025
ARIZONA ANTELOPE SEASON DATES
Rifle Aug 15 – Aug 31, 2025
Archery Aug 22 – Sept 4, 2025
Muzzleloader Sep 5 – Sep 11 or Sep 5 - 14, 2025
ARIZONA SHEEP SEASON DATES
Desert Bighorn Nov – Dec 31, 2025
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Oct – Dec 31, 2025
ARIZONA TURKEY SEASON DATES
Fall Turkey (General) Oct 3 – Oct 9, 2025
Spring Turkey Apr 25 – May 21, 2025
ARIZONA BISON SEASON DATES
Any Weapon Fall Aug - Dec, 2025 (Varies by unit)
Any Weapon Spring Jan - Jun, 2026 (Varies by unit)
ARIZONA JAVELINA SEASON DATES
Archery Jan 1 – Jan 22, 2025
Handgun/Archery/Muzzleloader Feb 6 – Feb 16, 2025
Rifle Feb 20 – Feb 26, 2025
ARIZONA MOUNTAIN LION SEASON DATES
Statewide (General) Aug 23, 2025 – May 31, 2026
ARIZONA BEAR SEASON DATES
Spring Bear Mar 20 – April 23, 2025 (until quota is met)
Fall Bear Aug 21 – Dec 31, 2025 (until quota is met)

Disclaimer: Arizona big game season dates vary by unit, weapon type, and permit draw. All dates are subject to change by emergency order or regulation updates. Always verify the latest hunt dates and restrictions with the Arizona Game and Fish Department before planning your hunt: https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/

YEAR ELK & ANTELOPE FALL SHEEP, BISON & DEER SPRING BISON, JAVELINA & TURKEY
2025 February 24, 11:20 a.m. (MST) June 23, 12:10 p.m. (MST) TBD
2024 February 26, 10:40 a.m. (MST) June 24, 11:58 a.m. (MST) October 18, 10:01 a.m. (MST)
2023 March 15, 10:20 a.m. (MST) June 27, 9:57 a.m. (MST) October 20, 10:00 a.m. (MST)
2022 March 8, 10:30 a.m. (MST) July 5, 12:04 p.m. (MST) October 31, 9:00 a.m. (MST)
2021 March 20 (system delays) July 9, 10:46 a.m. (MST) November 1, 2:00 p.m. (MST)
2020 March 5, 1:30 p.m. (MST) July 2, 10:45 a.m. (MST) November 5, 10:45 a.m. (MST)
2019 March 8 July 5  
2018 March 8 July 6  

5000 W Carefree Highway
PO Box 74020
Phoenix, AZ 85087
ph. 602-942-3000

 

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Arizona Black Bear Hunting 2025

Arizona is pretty wide open when it comes to hunting black bears. Each unit is controlled by season dates as well as a female harvest limit. When the female harvest is met, the unit is shut down. Spring bear starts at the end of March and runs to the end of April, while fall bear hunting starts in the month of August and then runs from October to December. There are a few archery-only permits open in select units there in between. Only one bear per hunter may be taken per calendar year. Within 10 days of taking a bear, hunters must present a skull and hide with proof of sex to an AZGFD employee. The use of dogs is legal, but it is prohibited during bear hunts from January 1st to July 31st.

Guided Hunts - Featured Arizona Black Bear Hunting

Alaska Peninsula Coast
HFA002-5

Alaska Peninsula Coast

Species: Brown Bear
Cost: $ 29,500.00
Location: Alaska, United States
New Mexico Unit 36
HFA091-1

New Mexico Unit 36

Species: Rocky Mountain Elk
Cost: $ 8,000.00
Location: New Mexico, United States
All-Inclusive Guided Stone
HFA396-3

All-Inclusive Guided Stone

Species: Stone Sheep
Cost: $ 89,250.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Trophy Canadian Moose
HFA038-5

Trophy Canadian Moose

Species: Canadian Moose
Cost: $ 9,800.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Wyoming Antelope Hunt
HFA127-2

Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Species: Pronghorn Antelope
Cost: $ 4,500.00
Location: Wyoming, United States
Montana Mountain Lion
HFA245-8

Montana Mountain Lion

Species: Mountain Lion
Cost: $ 6,800.00
Location: Montana, United States
Idaho Trophy Mule Deer
HFA392-4

Idaho Trophy Mule Deer

Species: Mule Deer
Cost: $ 5,900.00
Location: Idaho, United States
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2025 Arizona Black Bear Hunting Season Dates

For all season dates, tag numbers, and a complete list of hunts available, look in the 2026 Spring Turkey, Javelina, Bison, and Bear Hunt Draw Information booklet. If you have any questions regarding available hunts for Gould’s turkey in Arizona or Mexico, you can always call us.

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