Arizona Fall Bear Draw Odds: Units & Points

Arizona’s fall bear draw is one of those applications that long-time western hunters keep quiet about. The state’s black bear populations are strong, trophy quality runs higher than most applicants expect, and the draw difficulty sits squarely in “realistic for moderate-point hunters” territory for most units. What it lacks is the marketing that New Mexico and Idaho put on their bear seasons, and the point banks that grow in states hunters talk about more.

If you’re looking at the June 2026 Fall Draw and trying to decide whether to stack a bear application next to your pronghorn and javelina entries, the math probably works in your favor. Here’s the breakdown.

Quick Facts: Arizona Fall Black Bear

Detail	Info
Application Deadline	Second Tuesday of June (June 9, 2026)
Fall Bear Seasons	Late August through early November (varies by unit and method)
Weapon/Method Types	Archery, rifle, muzzleloader, hound (method-specific units)
Draw System	Linear bonus points, 20% random / 80% weighted
Nonresident Tag Cap	10% per hunt number
Typical Color-Phase Rate	~30% of harvested bears carry a brown, cinnamon, or blond coat
Tag Cost	~$225 nonresident bear tag

Disclaimer: Arizona subdivides bear hunts by unit and method (standard, hound-assisted), and quotas shift from year to year based on population data and sow-harvest limits. AGFD may close specific hunts mid-season if sow limits are reached. Verify current rules at azgfd.com before applying.

Where Arizona Black Bears Live

Arizona holds a continuous bear population across the higher-elevation pine and oak country of the state. The core range follows the Mogollon Rim eastward from the Flagstaff area through the White Mountains, with a separate population on the Kaibab Plateau north of the Grand Canyon and scattered populations in the sky-island ranges of southern Arizona — the Pinaleños, the Chiricahuas, and the Catalinas.

Mogollon Rim country (Units 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 23) holds the densest bear populations in the state. This is mixed ponderosa pine, oak, and chaparral transitioning into high-elevation aspen — habitat that produces good mast crops, reliable water, and the combination of cover and food that supports strong bear numbers.

White Mountains (Units 1, 27) are high-elevation bear country with mature ponderosa and mixed conifer. Bears here are typically the largest-bodied in the state, with mature boars weighing 300-plus pounds regularly. Tag allocations are smaller than along the Rim, and draw difficulty is higher.

Kaibab Plateau (Units 12A, 12B) holds a distinct bear population that hunts differently than the rest of the state. Lower bear density, more isolated country, and the unique experience of hunting the plateau edge near the Grand Canyon.

Sky islands in southern Arizona — Units 31, 32, 33 primarily — hold smaller bear populations in isolated mountain ranges separated by desert. These hunts are niche but productive for hunters who want a different style of bear country than the Rim’s continuous forest.

Standard vs. Hound-Assisted Hunts

Arizona offers bear hunts under two different method categories, which run as separate hunt numbers in the draw.

Standard bear hunts allow any legal weapon but prohibit the use of dogs. These hunts rely on spot-and-stalk, glassing at distance, and calling — the classic bear-hunting methods that reward pre-season scouting and patience. Standard hunts exist in most Arizona bear units.

Hound-assisted hunts allow trained bear hounds under specific rules. Hound hunts are concentrated in units that traditionally support that style — some Mogollon Rim units, parts of the Whites, and select sky-island units. Hound hunting requires either owning trained hounds or hunting with a licensed outfitter who does; it’s not a method you can casually adopt for a single hunt.

The draw difficulty differs meaningfully between methods. Standard hunts in most units draw at one to five points for nonresidents. Hound-assisted hunts in premium units can require six to ten points for nonresidents because the combination of method availability and unit quality concentrates demand.

Standard Hunt Unit Breakdown

Unit 27 (White Mountains): Premium bear unit with large-bodied animals and good color-phase representation. Rifle draws at five to eight points for nonresidents in most recent years. Archery can draw at three to six.

Units 4A/4B (Mogollon Rim): High bear density, accessible forest roads, solid color-phase presence. Rifle draws at two to five for nonresidents. Strong target for moderate-point applicants.

Units 23 and 6A (Central Rim): Dense bear populations, productive mast years produce excellent hunts. Draw difficulty moderate — two to four points for nonresidents on rifle.

Units 12A/12B (Kaibab): Lower bear density but quality animals. Draw difficulty relatively low because the remote location deters casual applicants. One to three points for nonresidents on most hunts.

Sky-island units (31, 32, 33): Niche hunts, often overlooked. Low draw difficulty — zero to two points commonly — with the trade-off of smaller bear populations and more scouting-intensive hunting.

The Hunt Unit Finder filters by species (bear), method (standard vs. hound), and accessibility. Cross-reference against the Draw Odds Engine for unit-specific point requirements in recent draw years.

Point Strategy for Fall Bear

Arizona bear points don’t compound as aggressively as deer or elk points because base draw difficulty is lower. The practical framing:

Zero to two points: Realistic for Kaibab, sky-island units, and some Mogollon Rim units. Apply for a hunt you actually want to hunt, not point-building. You’ll likely draw.

Three to five points: Most standard Rim hunts become high-probability draws. Unit 27 archery enters range. This is the productive middle where hunting this year and building toward premium hunts both make sense.

Six-plus points: Unit 27 rifle, premium hound hunts, and the highest-quality White Mountain archery become realistic. At this level, burn-versus-hold decisions start to matter because the point bank represents a meaningful investment.

Unlike deer or elk, bear point requirements don’t keep escalating at the top end. Ten points is enough for virtually any Arizona bear hunt. Burning your points eventually — as opposed to banking forever — is almost always the right call once you’re past the eight-point threshold.

Season Timing: When to Hunt

Arizona fall bear seasons are structured around bear biology and harvest management rather than a simple calendar block. Most units have a fall hunt that opens in late August or early September and runs until a female harvest quota is reached or a pre-set closure date, whichever comes first.

August–September hunting catches bears actively feeding on summer mast crops — acorns in oak country, berries at elevation, and prickly pear fruit in transitional units. This is when bears are most visible and most predictable in their feeding patterns.

October hunting shifts to bears feeding hard for winter denning. Bears travel longer distances, visit reliable food sources repeatedly, and can be patterned around known oak stands or fruit-bearing areas.

November hunting — in units that stay open that long — targets bears close to denning. Shorter active hours per day, but bears that remain active are often the biggest animals in the unit because mature boars den later than sows and subadults.

The female quota closure system means later-season bear hunters face real uncertainty. A unit that’s supposed to run through mid-October may close the first week if the female quota is hit quickly. Check closure status daily during your hunt.

Outfitter or DIY?

Most Arizona bear hunts are DIY territory for experienced western hunters. Standard-method hunts in accessible units reward glassing, calling, and pattern work — skills that transfer from deer and elk hunting without requiring bear-specific expertise.

Hound-assisted hunts are essentially outfitter-dependent for nonresidents unless you own trained dogs. Arizona bear outfitters running hound hunts typically run 1-to-5-day pursuits, with success rates over 60% when bears are moving and weather cooperates.

For a first Arizona bear, DIY a moderate-difficulty unit with good access — Units 4A, 4B, 23, or 6A — and focus on glassing country near oak-mast concentrations. Success rates for DIY hunters in these units run 15% to 25%, which is credible for a spot-and-stalk bear hunt.

Building Your 2026 Application

Before the June 9 deadline, run your bear point total through the Draw Odds Engine alongside your pronghorn and javelina applications. Bear stacks well with other fall species because the application fee is modest and the draw is independent.

If you’re new to Arizona bear entirely, apply for a rifle hunt in Unit 4A, 4B, 23, or 6A at whatever point total you have. You’ll likely draw within one to three application cycles, and the hunting itself gives you the kind of experience that makes future applications — including premium unit targets — more productive.

The Application Timeline walks the June 9 deadline alongside other western application windows, which helps if you’re managing multi-state bear applications this spring.

Related Arizona Articles

• Unit 27 elk country

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bonus points do I need for Arizona bear? Most standard rifle hunts draw at zero to five points for nonresidents. Premium units (Unit 27, some hound units) require five to ten. Arizona bear is generally more accessible than deer or elk.

Can I use dogs on a standard bear hunt? No. Standard hunts prohibit dogs. Hound hunts are separately drawn with their own hunt numbers and require either a licensed Arizona hound handler or a nonresident hound permit.

What’s the female harvest quota system? Each unit has a maximum sow harvest. When that quota is reached, the unit closes to bear hunting regardless of posted dates. Check AGFD closure reports daily during your hunt.

When do Arizona fall bear seasons end? Posted closing dates range from late September through early November depending on unit and method. Actual closure may occur earlier if quotas are hit.

Are color-phase bears legal to harvest? Yes. Color-phase black bears (brown, cinnamon, blond, chocolate) are simply color variants of the same species and are legal tag targets.

What’s the deal with grizzlies in Arizona? There are no grizzlies in Arizona. All black bears in the state are Ursus americanus. The last verified Arizona grizzly was killed in 1935.