Arizona black bears live in the thick timber at higher elevations most of the year, but during the months of August through September (our typical hunting season) bears come out of the high country in search of fat-building food sources. Some Arizona black bears travel to the lower desert elevations of their mountain ranges looking for prickly pear cactus fruit, which is very sweet and high in calories. Other bears may travel to areas with a high concentration of acorns, juniper berries or manzanita berries.