One of the best opportunities to keep you sharp on your game in the spring months is to get out on a black bear hunt. Whether it’s a spot and stalk hunt, baited, or with hounds, the opportunities are endless. While every state has a different management style to control bear populations, it is worth putting a state or two in your plans for the next couple of years. While most states offer great general season, over-the-counter black bear hunts, keep in mind that there are some draw-only opportunities. The following table will highlight some of these draws available for this year.
If you haven’t hunted black bears recently, we recommend you consider one soon. Although the Huntin’ Fool magazine research data does not cover each black bear draw unit in detail, Hunt Advisors often consult members on finding a black bear outfitter and obtaining a tag for the upcoming season. If you have any questions regarding any of these hunts, give us a call at 435-865-1020 and we will do our best to share with you the information to help you find transporters, new hunts, and the spring challenge you are looking for.
| WESTERN STATES BEAR HUNTS | ||
| State | Spring Season Black Bear | Fall Season Black Bear |
| Alaska | Over-the-counter tag, most units. Portions of units 1, 2, and 3 are draw only with a December 15th deadline to apply. | Over-the-counter tag, most units. Portions of units 1, 2, and 3 are draw only with a December 15th deadline to apply. |
| Arizona | Over-the-counter tag, most units. Total harvest quota and female harvest quotas per unit. A handful of units have spring draw tags with an October deadline to apply. | Over-the-counter tag, most units. Total harvest quota and female harvest quotas per unit. |
| California | No spring season available. | Over-the-counter general tags subject to a statewide harvest quota. |
| Colorado | No spring season available. | Over-the-counter add-on or general licenses available, most units. All units have a draw license season with a deadline to apply in April. |
| Idaho | Over-the-counter tag, most units. Units 22/31, 32, and 32A draw only with a deadline to apply of February 15th. | Over-the-counter tag, most units. Units 1, 22/31, 32, and 32A draw only with a deadline to apply of June 5th. |
| Montana | Over-the-counter license with harvest quota in some units. | Over-the-counter license with harvest quota in some units. |
| Nevada | No spring season available. | Draw tags only in 10 western units with an early May deadline to apply. Subject to unit harvest quotas. |
| New Mexico | No spring season available. | Over-the-counter tag, most units. Unit harvest quota. Units 2, 4, 9, 54, 55A, and 57 draw only with a deadline to apply of February 10th. |
| Oregon | Draw hunts with a deadline to apply of February 10th. | General over-the-counter tag valid statewide |
| Utah | Draw in most units with a deadline to apply in late February. Few units with over-the-counter tags subject to harvest quotas. | Draw in most units with a deadline to apply in late February. Few units with over-the-counter tags subject to harvest quotas. |
| Washington | The 2022 spring black bear hunt was cancelled per Commission order. | General over-the-counter tag. |
| Wyoming | Over-the-counter license subject to female harvest quotas. | Over-the-counter license subject to female harvest quotas. |
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