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Arizona Bear Female Harvest Limits
2026 and 2027 female harvest limits for 31 unit groups, how a unit closes, and the 2025 bear harvest by hunt area.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
How bear female limits close units
Arizona bear tags are nonpermit-tags, and the brake on the harvest is the female limit. A unit (or group) closes to bear hunting for the rest of the calendar year when its annual female harvest limit is reached (note 118). The 2026-27 regulations set 31 unit groups for 2026, and the 2027 spring booklet repeats the groups for 2027. Fall hunts run from August 7, 2026 by unit, spring hunts from March 19, 2027. Bears are reported online within 48 hours and inspected within 10 days. Cubs, sows with cubs and females with spotted kittens are never legal.
From 2026 female limits and 2027 female limits (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
Bear female harvest limits, 2026 and 2027 (31 groups)
| Units | Group as printed | 2026 female limit | 2027 female limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 27 | 62 | 62 | |
| 3B | 6 | 6 | |
| 3C | 6 | 6 | |
| 4A,5A | 9 | 9 | |
| 4B | 7 | 7 | |
| 5B, 6A | 12 | 12 | |
| 6B, 11M | 6 | 6 | |
| 7 | 3 | 3 | |
| 8 | 6 | 6 | |
| 9 | 4 | 4 | |
| 10, 18A, 19B | 3 | 3 | |
| 16A | 3 | 3 | |
| 17A, 17B, 18B | 10 | 10 | |
| 19A | 8 | 8 | |
| 20A, 20B, 20C | 21 | 21 | |
| 21 | 8 | 8 | |
| 22N | 9 | 9 |
| 22S | 7 | 7 |
| 23N | 12 | 12 |
| 23S | 16 | 16 |
| 24A | 11 | 11 | |
| 24B | 2 | 2 | |
| 28 | 2 | 2 | |
| 29, 30A | 12 | 12 | |
| 30B | 2 | 2 | |
| 31 | 10 | 10 | |
| 32 | 6 | 6 | |
| 33 | 6 | 6 | |
| 34A | 10 | 10 | |
| 34B | 5 | 5 | |
| + Fort Huachuca | 35A, 35B, FTHU | 13 | 13 |
From 2026-27 regulations and 2027 spring booklet (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
2025 bear harvest by hunt area
AZGFD mandatory check-in counted bears by hunt area in 2025. The hunt-area rows add up to 422; the printed total in the report is 431.
| Hunt area | Units | Hunter harvest | With dogs | Males | Females | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 64 | 6 | 37 | 25 | 12 | |
| 5B, 6A | 42 | 20 | 28 | 14 | – | |
| 23S | 31 | 0 | 14 | 17 | – | |
| 6A | 30 | 10 | 22 | 8 | – | |
| 29, 30A | 18 | 2 | 9 | 9 | – | |
| 1, 2A, 2B, 2C | 17 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 1 | |
| 4A, 5A | 14 | 14 | 4 | 10 | – | |
| 22S | 14 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |
| 24A | 14 | 0 | 9 | 5 | – | |
| 32 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 7 | – | |
| 33 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 8 | – | |
| 5B | 12 | 10 | 6 | 6 | – | |
| 6B | 12 | 0 | 5 | 7 | – | |
| 6B, 11M | 12 | 0 | 5 | 7 | – | |
| 17A, 17B, 18B | 11 | 0 | 6 | 5 | – | |
| 31 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 9 | – | |
| 35A, 35B, FTHU | 11 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | |
| 8 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 2 | – | |
| 20A, 20B, 20C | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | |
| 22N | 9 | 5 | 3 | 6 | – | |
| 23N | 9 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |
| 3C | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | – | |
| 34A | 6 | 0 | – | 5 | – | |
| 4B | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | – | |
| 19A | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| 21 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | – | |
| 3B | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | – | |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | – | |
| 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | |
| 28 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | |
| 23 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 1 | |
| 30B | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | |
| 34B | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | – | |
| 10, 18A, 19B | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | |
| 16A | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | |
| 24B | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
From 2025 black bear harvest summary (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
Questions about bear female limits
What is a bear female harvest limit?
A unit (or group) closes to bear hunting for the rest of the calendar year when its annual female harvest limit is reached (note 118).
Are the 2027 bear limits different?
The 2027 spring booklet lists the same unit groups; compare the two limit columns in the table for any change.
When does Arizona bear season open?
Fall bear hunts start August 7, 2026 in the first units and run through December 31; spring bear hunts open March 19, 2027.
How many bears may I take?
Two (2) bears per calendar year, provided one (1) is taken with a restricted nonpermit-tag issued under R12-4-115 (Population Management Seasons). See page 49 for information about how to apply for a population management restricted nonpermit-tag.
How do I report a bear?
Report online at www.azgfd.gov/harvestreports (or in person) within 48 hours; within 10 days present the skull and hide with proof of sex, unfrozen, for inspection (premolar removed; lion teat measured). From fall 2026 reports are online only.
Can I use bait for bears?
No. Unlawful to place any substance in a manner intended to attract bears (R12-4-303(A)(4)(d)).
Can dogs be used for bears?
Big game may not be taken with dogs except bear (August 1-December 31) and mountain lion; the hunter must be present for the whole hunt; pursuit-only seasons for lion and raccoon.
What did 2025 bear check-in record across the hunt areas?
Hunt-area rows sum to 422; the printed total of the 2025 report is 431.
Other photos on this page: Bureau of Land Management Arizona (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public domain); Bureau of Land Management (CC BY 2.0).