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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Southern AZ specialty. Draw required.
Bighorn Sheep
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 30 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Arizona Game and Fish Department before you plan around them.
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
Arizona Hunting Guides
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Arizona 2026 Nonresident License Checklist
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Arizona Dove Hunting: September Opener Guide
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Arizona Hunter Education Bonus Point Guide
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Arizona Smart Zones: ProHunt Walkthrough
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