Bear Down - White Mountains AZ

[RoyBoy]

  kick A$$ brother

[Huntboy]

Nice, congrats.

[MDGrand]

Look outside your window... 

?

[Bean Counter]

Only yankin' your chain, man. 

Just a little deduction. The White Mountains aren't exactly destination #1 for black bear hunting in the U.S. but they are for bull elk. I would venture a guess that many non residents who come early to the area would slap a black bear hunt on the to do list whilst out scouting. Good luck with the tag!

Here's some photos I snapped up there couple of years back.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246

[MDGrand]

Only yankin' your chain, man. 

Just a little deduction. The White Mountains aren't exactly destination #1 for black bear hunting in the U.S. but they are for bull elk. I would venture a guess that many non residents who come early to the area would slap a black bear hunt on the to do list whilst out scouting. Good luck with the tag!

Here's some photos I snapped up there couple of years back.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=57698.msg710246#msg710246

I know. Yeah the area is a premier elk area. Probably the best elk habitat I have ever seen for elk. For bear.. Maybe not number 1 but the bears are everywhere! And... Even though I got a nice traditional black bear I saw several color phase bears.. And from what I have learned if you want a color phase bear this is the place to go. Either way... Love the area and wish we had country like that here in WA.

[atc250r18]

Nice bear, where abouts did you get her, Big lake area?  I grew up in the Springerville area, lots of pretty country but the only bear I've ever seen in AZ was the one by cousin plugged on the Kiabab. 

There's not much better then high mountain Arizona trout fishing this time of year, it's the best way to beat the heat.

[MDGrand]

Congrats!  But isn't a 10 yard recovery pretty much impossible to evaluate the blood trail?  Good luck on the elk, too!

Granted the trail was not long and there is a bit of backstory on why I said "blood trail..."

The story is that the outfitter told me the importance of making a good shot because he rarely if ever gets blood trails from the bear they have taken out of this area. Well, the  .45-70 I used with the Hornady FTX bullet did a complete pass through as I place the shot right on the shoulder.. the blood was sprayed all over the ground where the bullet exited and all the way up to the bear only 10 or 15 yards away from where he was shot. So while there was not a LONG blood trail.. it was pretty obvious and countered his experience of not getting ANY blood trails before.

[MDGrand]

Nice bear, where abouts did you get her, Big lake area?  I grew up in the Springerville area, lots of pretty country but the only bear I've ever seen in AZ was the one by cousin plugged on the Kiabab. 

There's not much better then high mountain Arizona trout fishing this time of year, it's the best way to beat the heat.

Yup, right near big lake.. closer to Reservation Lake though. You are right about the fish! Nice area for that too!

[washelkhunter]

Congrats! Nice bear. My wife wants to move to AZ to be closer to her folks as they age. Im ok with it, but i said look im not going to spend.my summers roasting down on this valley floor, i need a cabin in tne mtns. Fine she said go get one. Pinelakes AZ should be just about right. 

[South Texas]

Congrats brother!!!!  I am so stoked for all fellow AZ hunters.  AZ should be destination #1 for black bear hunting in the US.  I have seen more B&C bears come out of Arizona than most anywhere.  And I've personally seen more big old bears come out of the ranges along the mexican border than northern AZ.  But that might be because I spend more time down there.  Over the next couple months you will be able to catch bears eating cactus in the open country.  If you can stand the heat there isn't a better place to hunt in the world.  Good on you!!!

Here is a nice AZ bear we called out of a canyon a couple of springs ago: