Arizona Hunting Guide 2026
Complete Arizona hunting guide for 2026: seasons, license costs, draw odds, GMU boundaries, bag limits, and regulations. Compare every game species at a glance.
Wildlife Agency
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Hunter safety course required for first-time buyers
Draw Application Deadlines
| Species | Type | Opens | Deadline | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk (General) | Primary Draw | Feb 11 | Jun 10 | Late Jul |
| Mule Deer | Primary Draw | Feb 11 | Jun 10 | Late Jul |
| Pronghorn | Primary Draw | Feb 11 | Jun 10 | Late Jul |
| Coues Deer | Primary Draw | Sep 11 | Oct 10 | Late Nov |
| Bighorn Sheep | Primary Draw | Feb 11 | Jun 10 | Late Jul |
| Javelina | Primary Draw | Sep 11 | Oct 10 | Late Nov |
Arizona Hunting Seasons
Mule Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 20 | Nov 3 |
| Archery | Aug 18 | Sep 6 |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 29 | Dec 12 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only for most hunts. Bonus point system in effect. Coues deer in southeastern Arizona are highly prized. Unit-specific regulations.
Elk
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Nov 10 | Nov 21 |
| Archery | Sep 8 | Sep 22 |
| Muzzleloader | Sep 29 | Oct 10 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only. Arizona produces trophy-class Rocky Mountain elk. Extremely competitive draws. Loyalty and bonus point system.
Turkey
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Apr 19 | May 8 |
| Archery | Sep 20 | Nov 27 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 (spring), 1 (fall)
Merriam's turkeys in the high country. Spring season draw-only in most units. Fall archery over-the-counter.
Bear
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 6 | Dec 31 |
| Archery | Aug 18 | Sep 5 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Black bear only. Over-the-counter tags available. Season closes when harvest objective met. Mountain areas of central and eastern Arizona.
Quail
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Oct 4 | Feb 9 |
Bag limits: daily: 15, season: No limit
Gambel's quail predominant with some scaled quail. Liberal bag limits. Populations fluctuate with rainfall. No stamp required.
Pronghorn
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Sep 30 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Draw-only in most western states
Coues Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct 15 | Nov 15 |
| Rifle | Dec 1 | Dec 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Southern AZ specialty. Draw required.
Bighorn Sheep
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 30 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime (most states)
Extremely limited tags. Once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Mountain Lion
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Year-Round | Jan 1 | Dec 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
OTC year-round with harvest limits.
Javelina
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Jan 1 | Jan 31 |
| Rifle | Feb 1 | Mar 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Draw required in Arizona.
Planning Tools
- Arizona Draw Odds by Unit — success rates for every limited-entry hunt
- Arizona Hunt Unit Guides — terrain, tactics, access, and logistics by unit
- Tag-to-Trail Planner — interactive map: public land, harvest records, water, burns
- Hunt Cost Calculator — budget your full hunt cost
- Application Timeline — never miss an application deadline
- Preference Point Tracker — track points across all your states
