I haven't personally tried this hunt, but I am planning to this coming summer. And, yes, I'm eager to give the hunt a try, as the outfitters (with whom I have already hunted Coues deer and javelina) tell me this hunt is almost a sure thing with a rifle. Even with a bow, they say shot opportunities are almost assured.
Admittedly, I find the prospect of hunting Arizona in August a bit daunting. However, I've been assured the hunting is generally confined to the early mornings and late evenings when the temperature is somewhat tolerable. Hunt-ers glass for bears from the tops of ridges overlooking feeding areas. Once a bear is located and evaluated, the race is on to get within shooting distance before it moves to its morning bedding area or before night falls in the evening. This method is highly effective for locating bears, as it is not uncommon to spot five or six bears from one location.
Shots can range from the long cross-canyon variety to within bow range, depending on the terrain and wind. As an apex predator, bears are not particularly vigilant, especially when gorging themselves for winter hibernation. But they do possess excellent senses of hearing and smell and will dart into the densest cover at the first whiff of human scent or at an arrant sound, so you must take care when positioning for a shot.
Hunters interested in color-phase bears will like this hunt because Arizona provides an excellent opportunity at a color phase bear, with about half of the trophies ranging from chocolate to blond. Of course, these bruins don't get as large as the coastal bears of Canada; nevertheless, a six-footer is not uncommon.
While........(continued)
