Hunters must physically check-in harvested bears
and mountain lions

By Rory Aikens, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Bear and mountain lion hunters must contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of taking a bear or a mountain lion, and you must also physically check-in the harvested animal within 10 days with the Department.

Successful bear hunters must contact an Arizona Game and Fish Department office in person or by telephone at 1-800-970-BEAR (2327) within 48 hours of taking a bear. Successful mountain lion hunters must contact an Arizona Game and Fish office in person or by telephone at 1-877-438-0447 within 48 hours of taking a lion.  The report for both bears and mountain lions shall include the hunter’s name, hunting license number, tag number, sex of the lion or bear taken, management unit where the lion or bear was taken, and telephone number at which the hunter can be reached to obtain additional information.

Also, within 10 days of taking a mountain lion or a bear, the hunter shall present the animal’s skull, hide, and attached proof of sex for inspection. If the skull is to be frozen before inspection by the department, the mouth should be propped open so a tooth can be extracted for age determination. Hunters are encouraged to contact a department office by telephone to coordinate the inspection.