ok need some advice.

[Bean Counter]

I've seen a half a dozen mountain lions  in the field, but not once a wild black bear 

That's a pretty odd ratio....I've seen around 3 cats......probably 50+Bears (don't really keep track?)

I only hunted for a few years in WA before moving away. I do most of my hunting in the deserts of Arizona which is not black bear country, but there are plenty of lions 

[eastcoastguy]

Sweet deal. Thanks guys. A cays on the list also. We don't have those. I shot a trophy whitetail back home so now moving down the list lol.

[bankwalker]

I've seen 20+ cats. But I'm looking for them more so than i am deer or elk
The last 3 seasons bear hunting I've seen close to 25. I've seen very few before I started actually hunting them...and never once have I seen a bear while I was deer or elk hunting.
If I'm not looking for them specifically I just don't see them. And I assume that's the case with 90% of deer/elk hunters.

[RadSav]

I only hunted for a few years in WA before moving away. I do most of my hunting in the deserts of Arizona which is not black bear country, but there are plenty of lions 

One of the biggest bear I've ever seen was between Bartlett and Horseshoe.  If you know where Horseshoe ford is...right about there!  Must have been eating something good over at the ranch!  Not far from there I saw the smallest bobcat too.  Looked full grown and smaller than a house cat.  Javalina and quail central back in the early eighties too!

Crazy this first time you see a bear in the desert.  They just don't seem to belong there!

Back then you completely left Scottsdale and drove a good ways through rabbit country before reaching Carefree.  Carefree Airport was on the edge of civilization!  You even left residential for a ways between Carefree and Cave Creek.  We all knew that drive well as it was the only medical center for a LONG way if you were to get stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake....or fell into a cholla