Bear Tracks

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lawson

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Nov 16, 2005
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622
Location
Chandler, AZ
I was quail hunting this weekend out in the hills, about an hour east of the Phoenix area. We were crossing through a dry creekbed, still moist from the last rain, trying to get a good distance away from the plague of recreational dirtbike and quad riders that has descended upon the area over the past few years. I stopped to look around, and noticed some large tracks running the length of the creek.

I called the other guys to look, and they confirmed that they were the tracks of an adult bear.

We have decent sized bear populations in northern AZ, but you don't often see tracks this far south, especially with the record breaking warm winter we've been enjoying.
 
A hunting buddy of mine ran across 2 black bears NE of Benson this year. Suprised the heck out of him too cause the elevation was 4500 ft.

I know we have them up in the mountains at cooler elevations but didn't think they would be that low.
 
Yes.

Commission Order 9: Bear
General Bear
Open Areas do not include any area closed to hunting under A.R.S. sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-301, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803.
Season Dates Notes Open Areas Legal Wildlife Fem Harv Obj
Oct 7 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C Any bear except sows with cubs 5
Aug 26 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 3B Any bear except sows with cubs 7
Aug 26 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 3C Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Oct 28 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 4A and 5A Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Aug 26 - Oct 6, 2005 (1,2) 4B Any bear except sows with cubs 3
Oct 28 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 5B Any bear except sows with cubs 1
Aug 26 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 6A Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Aug 26 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 6B (except Camp Navajo) Any bear except sows with cubs 3
Oct 28 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 7 (except 7M) and 9 Any bear except sows with cubs 1
Aug 26 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 8 Any bear except sows with cubs 1
Aug 26 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 10, 18A, 19B, 20A and 20B Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Aug 26 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 17A, 17B and 18B Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Sep 2 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 19A Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Sep 2 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2,6) 21 Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Sep 2 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 22 Any bear except sows with cubs 5
Oct 14 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2,3) 23 North Any bear except sows with cubs 5
Sep 2 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2,4) 23 South Any bear except sows with cubs 5
Oct 21 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 24A Any bear except sows with cubs 3
Aug 26 - Sep 4, 2005 (1,2) 24B Any bear except sows with cubs 1
Aug 26 - Oct 6, 2005 (1,2) 27 Any bear except sows with cubs 6
Oct 7 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2) 27 Any bear except sows with cubs 15
Sep 16 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 28 Any bear except sows with cubs 1
Sep 16 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 29 and 30A Any bear except sows with cubs 4
Sep 16 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 31 Any bear except sows with cubs 3
Sep 16 - Oct 20, 2005 (1,2) 32 Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Aug 29 - Dec 31, 2005 (1,2,5) Fort Huachuca in Unit 35A Any bear except sows with cubs —
Total 85

LAWFUL TAKING METHODS: Any firearm or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304.
LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS: Class F or G license plus Bear nonpermit-tag obtained from a license dealer as prescribed in R12-4-114.

Archery-Only Bear
Open Areas do not include any area closed to hunting under A.R.S. sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-301, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803.
Season Dates Notes Open Areas Legal Wildlife Fem Harv Obj
Aug 26 - Oct 6, 2005 (1,2) 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C Any bear except sows with cubs 3
Aug 5 - Aug 25, 2005 (1,2) 3B Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Aug 5 - Aug 25, 2005 (1,2) 4B Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Aug 6 - Aug 26, 2005 (1,2) 6B (except Camp Navajo) and 7M Any bear except sows with cubs 1
Aug 26 - Sep 15, 2005 (1,2,3) 23 North Any bear except sows with cubs 2
Aug 26 - Sep 15, 2005 (1,2) 32 Any bear except sows with cubs 1
Total 11
LAWFUL TAKING METHODS: Bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304 and R12-4-318 and crossbow as prescribed in R12-4-216.
LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS: Class F or G license plus Bear nonpermit-tag obtained from a license dealer as prescribed in R12-4-114.
BEAR BAG LIMIT: One (1) bear per calendar year except as prescribed in R12-4-120.
BEAR SPECIAL REGULATIONS: As prescribed in R12-4-308, all hunters must contact an Arizona Game and Fish Department office in person or by telephone at 1-800-970-BEAR (2327)
within 48 hours of taking a bear. The report shall include the hunter’s name, hunting license number, tag number, the sex of the bear taken, the management unit where the bear was
taken, and telephone number at which the hunter can be reached to obtain additional information. In addition, the hunter shall provide a premolar tooth from the bear taken to the
Phoenix Office of the Arizona Game and Fish Department within 20 days after contacting the department.

Bear Notes:
1. No person shall knowingly use any substance as bait at any
time to attract or take bear.
2. When the number of bears equaling the female harvest
objective for a particular hunt has been reported killed, the
unit(s) will be closed at sundown the Wednesday immediately
following. Hunters are responsible for calling 1-800-970-
BEAR (-2327) before hunting to determine if their desired hunt
unit is still open.
3. Unit 23 North Hunt Unit — That portion of Unit 23 located
north of the following: Beginning at the junction of Tonto Creek
and Spring Creek; east along Spring Creek to F.S. 134; east on
F.S. 134 to F.S. 129; east on F.S. 129 to AZ Hwy 288; east on
AZ Hwy 288 to F.S. 54; east on F.S. 54 to F.S. 202; south on
F.S. 202 to F.S. 127; east on F.S. 127 to F.S. 127A; east on F.S.
127A to the Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary.
4. Unit 23 South Hunt Unit — That portion of Unit 23 located
south of the following: Beginning at the junction of Tonto
Creek and Spring Creek; east along Spring Creek to F.S.
134; east on F.S. 134 to F.S. 129; east on F.S. 129 to AZ Hwy
288; east on AZ Hwy 288 to F.S. 54; east on F.S. 54 to F.S.
202; south on F.S. 202 to F.S. 127; east on F.S. 127 to F.S.
127A; east on F.S. 127A to the Fort Apache Indian Reservation
boundary.
5. The Fort Huachuca Army Garrison in Unit 35A is open to
bear hunting only to properly licensed military and Fort
Huachuca civilian personnel holding a valid Fort Huachuca
post hunting permit. Special regulation requirements must
be obtained from Fort Huachuca.
6. The Grand Canyon-Parashant, Vermilion Cliffs, Sonoran Desert,
Ironwood Forest, and Agua Fria National Monuments are
open to hunting.
 
Spring bear;

Open Areas do not include any area closed to hunting under A.R.S. Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-301, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803.
Hunt No. Season Dates Notes Open Areas Legal Wildlife Permits Fem Harv Obj
8001
Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 24A Any bear except sows with cubs
8002 Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 27 Any bear except sows with cubs
8003 Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 29 and 30A Any bear except sows with cubs
8004 Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 31 Any bear except sows with cubs 8005 Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 32 Any bear except sows with cubs
8006 Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 34A Any bear except sows with cubs 8007 Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4,5) 35A and 35B (except Fort Huachuca) Any bear except sows with cubs — Mar 24 - May 2, 2006 (1,2,3,4,5) Fort Huachuca in Unit 35A Any bear except sows with cubs —-

Total 385
 LAWFUL TAKING METHODS: Any firearm or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304.
LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS: Class F or G license plus Spring Bear hunt permit-tag obtained only through application and drawing procedures as prescribed in R12-4-104
and R12-4-114. Applicants must apply by Hunt Number.

ARCHERY-ONLY SPRING BEAR
Open Areas do not include any area closed to hunting under A.R.S. Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-301, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803
.
Hunt No. Season Dates Notes Open Areas Legal Wildlife Permits Fem Harv Obj
8008 Apr 28 - Jun 30, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 3B and 3C Any bear except sows with cubs
8009 Apr 28 - May 25, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 6B (except Camp Navajo) Any bear except sows with cubs
8010 Mar 24 - Jul 31, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 22 Any bear except sows with cubs
8011 Mar 24 - Jul 31, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 23 Any bear except sows with cubs
8012 Mar 24 - Jul 31, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 33 Any bear except sows with cubs
8013 May 3 - Jul 31, 2006 (1,2,3,4) 34A Any bear except sows with cubs 8014 May 3 - Jul 31, 2006 (1,2,3,4,5) 35A and 35B (except Fort Huachuca)

Any bear except sows with cubs
May 3 - Sep 3, 2006 (1,2,3,4,5) Fort Huachuca in Unit 35A Any bear except sows with cubs

 LAWFUL TAKING METHODS: Bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304 and R12-4-318 and crossbow as prescribed in R12-4-216.
LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS: Class F or G license plus Spring Bear hunt permit-tag obtained only through application and drawing procedures as prescribed in R12-4-104
and R12-4-114. Applicants must apply by Hunt Number.
Spring Bear Notes:

3. Bear hunt units will close at sundown the Wednesday immediately
after the female harvest objective is reached for that hunt,
or on the date indicated in the spring bear regulations, whichever
comes first. The female harvest objective is combined for
Unit 35A/35B and Fort Huachuca hunts, and these hunts will
close when the female harvest objective is reached for Unit
35A/35B.
4. All bears killed must be checked out by the hunter within 48
hours by calling the Arizona Game and Fish Department at 1-
800-970-BEAR (2327). Hunters may call this number anytime
to determine if a hunt is still open.
5. The Fort Huachuca Military Reservation in Unit 35A is open to bear
hunting only to properly licensed Fort Huachuca military and
civilian personnel holding a valid Fort Huachuca post hunting
permit. Hunt numbers must be obtained from Fort Huachuca.
Applications for these hunts must be submitted to the Arizona
Game and Fish Department by the published deadline.
BEAR SPECIAL REGULATIONS: Pursuant to R12-4-308: A successful
bear hunter shall report information about the kill to a
Department office in person or by telephone with 48 hours of
taking a bear. If the kill is reported by telephone, the report shall
include the name of the hunter, his or her hunting license number,
the sex of the bear taken, the management unit where the bear was
taken, and telephone number at which the hunter can be reached
to obtain additional information. In addition, a premolar tooth
from the bear shall be provided to the Phoenix office within 20 days
after contacting the Department.
BEAR BAG LIMIT: One (1) bear per calendar year except as
prescribed in R12-4-120.
 
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