**********Apache Outdoors**********
(Shush Zhinnih) Black Bear
The Black bear of San Carlos have become one of the most sought after trophies of today. With bears ranging from newborns to a full grown adult weighing over 500 lbs. and color phases from black to red to blonde, the black bear is one of the big game species we manage well here on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. With a limited amount of tags available in 5 different units during 3 different seasons the hunter is sure to find a trophy of a lifetime somewhere on the lands of the Apache. Their environment ranges from the extreme lower deserts full of cactus and grass to the high forested meadows and canyons and everything in between. With so much land to hunt and very little pressure from over hunting, the black bear has had a good chance at survival. With the average bear weighing around 275lbs, finding a bear of trophy quality can be achieved if your homework is done. At Apache Outdoors, we strive to find the biggest bears in each unit and study the terrains closely pertaining to the bears habits in the immediate area. We try to pattern these bears and determine where, when and why a bear uses certain canyons and trails or ridges for their movement. As these bears move with the seasons, they follow their food source closely and can travel many miles to reach a place good for foraging for their diet which mostly includes grasses and flowers. Bears will eat carion but on a limited basis and some big bears are known to kill livestock and feed on them for days and weeks at a time.
For the trophy hunter, we enjoy the challenge of finding a bear big enough for their expectations. With some skulls measuring over 22 inches taken from the San Carlos Reservation, he can be assured that there is a good chance at finding one of these huge bears and harvest a trophy of a lifetime. All units on the reservation can produce these huge bears but to harvest one takes a lot of homework and scouting. Or, you can call us at Apache Outdoors and we will do the work for you. Of course we cannot harvest the bear for you but we can guide you to the most productive areas for these trophies and find a big bear that will meet your expectations. For the first time bear hunter, we can teach them what bears like to feed on at what time of the year and how they use their trails and where they den up for the winter. Any and all questions we will try our best to answer or show you. There are also many different ways to field judge bears and bear signs. If a black bear is what you are after or if you are looking to improve on your biggest bear, we at Apache Outdoors can help. So on your next hunting trip for the elusive black bear, call us and we can discuss what your expectations are and if we can help.
