Arizona (AZ)
Arizona is a marquee mule deer and desert big-game state.
Agency links, deadlines, unit maps, and species opportunities are tied to official sources below.
Huntable species in AZ
Pick a species to assemble the available permit/tag opportunities for this state.
Unit Map / Units
Official GIS polygon layers render here when available. Click a unit polygon to ask Jeremiah for practical hunting background; seeded unit cards appear only when no GIS layer has been imported yet.
Arizona Game Management Units
Official GIS sourcePrimary statewide management or hunt-unit boundaries.
Cream/white gaps are places not covered by this active district layer, such as reservations, national parks, lakes/water, or other excluded/non-district areas. Colors separate hunting-district number series for readability; always verify exact rules, species, and season dates against the official source.
Agency source
1
high confidence
Opportunities
15
researched nonresident paths
Applications
0
public research mode
Unit map
GIS
ArcGIS REST
Elk opportunities
First-pass official-source research package for nonresident applications, draw/OTC paths, odds, harvest stats, and map linkage. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
Create an AZGFD portal account, buy a valid Arizona nonresident Combination Hunt/Fish license, then apply online at draw.azgfd.com for each species/genus before the annual Arizona-time deadline. Elk/pronghorn use the winter draw; deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison and sandhill crane use the June draw; spring javelina/turkey/bear/bison and raptor capture use the October draw. If unsuccessful on a valid application, bonus points are awarded; bonus-point-only hunt numbers are available. Remaining permits after draws move to first-come/leftover processes. Some species/opportunities use OTC/nonpermit-tags instead of draw permit-tags.
Hunt codes: See annual AZGFD Pronghorn and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet hunt numbers, Bonus point only hunt number in annual booklet
Units: GMUs / hunt areas listed in annual elk/pronghorn booklet
Deadlines: 2026 draw deadline: 2026-02-03 23:59 Arizona time • 2026 credit/debit card update deadline: 2026-02-17
Fees: 2026 nonresident elk hunt permit-tag: $665 including $15 application fee • Nonresident youth-only elk: $657 for youth-only hunts
Open map layerHunt codes: See AZGFD leftover list for specific 2026 elk hunt numbers
Units: GMUs / hunt areas on leftover list
Deadlines: 2026 paper mail first-come began 2026-03-16 08:00 Arizona time • Remaining tags at AZGFD offices began 2026-03-23
Fees: Same applicable nonresident elk permit-tag/license fees
Open map layer- • Nonresidents must buy a nonresident Combination Hunt and Fish license to hunt/apply for big game; the general nonresident hunting-only license is not offered. 2026 adult nonresident combination license is $160 and youth combination license is $5; licenses are valid 365 days from purchase.
- • A short-term combination license is not valid for applying in the draw or for big game.
- • Applicants must possess a valid license at the time of online application and through the draw deadline day; if not, they must buy it during application.
- • Everyone hunting wildlife needs the license plus required hunt permit-tag, nonpermit-tag or stamp; big game and sandhill crane require a tag.
- • Youth ages 10-17 need a Youth Combination Hunt/Fish license. No one under 10 may hunt big game; ages 10-13 must have hunter education completion in possession when hunting big game.
- • AZGFD portal accounts are the sole official source for draw results and bonus point viewing; applicants need Customer ID for draw applications.
- • Non-immigrant aliens importing firearms/ammunition need an ATF import permit and valid hunting license.
- • Mandatory harvest reporting/check-in applies to archery deer, bear, mountain lion, bison and bighorn sheep as specified by commission order; starting fall 2026 online harvest reporting is required for bear, mountain lion and OTC archery deer.
- • Could not directly extract the 2026 Pronghorn and Elk Hunt Draw Information PDF URL during this pass; elk/pronghorn details are summarized from official draw/news URLs and fee/regulation PDF, with hunt-number tables marked annual-booklet follow-up.
Buy the nonresident Combination Hunt/Fish license. In 2026 it is $160 for adults and is valid 365 days. A short-term combo license will not work for the draw or big game.
Use draw.azgfd.com with an AZGFD Customer ID and portal account. The portal is also the sole official source for draw results and bonus points.
Elk/pronghorn are a winter draw (2026 deadline was Feb. 3 at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time). Deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison and sandhill crane are the June draw (2026 deadline June 2 at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time). Spring javelina/turkey/bear/bison are the October draw.
Arizona uses bonus points. Unsuccessful valid applications get a point; bonus-point-only applications are allowed using the species/genus hunt number. Points improve odds but do not guarantee a tag except where maximum-point demand is lower than quota.
No. Statute/rules cap nonresident computer-draw availability. Most deer/elk/pronghorn/javelina/turkey/crane hunt numbers are no more than 10% rounded down; bighorn and bison have a no-more-than-one-or-10% rule plus hunt-number limits.
Yes, but it is capped and first-come. AZGFD sets nonresident archery deer nonpermit-tags at 10% of the prior five-year average sales, rounded down to the nearest five, and may require online purchase.
Agency portals
Official agency, license/application, regulations, draw odds, and harvest stats.
AZGFD account portal manages draw applications, bonus points, and license history; license checkout also uses license.azgfd.com.
Deadlines
Application, draw, reporting, and point purchase reminders.
No deadlines seeded yet.
Unit boundary source
Official map/GIS source for the future clickable unit-level map.
Format: ArcGIS REST
Conversion: FeatureServer layer 0; 85 GMU polygons (confirmed 2026-05-12); fields: GMU, REG_NAME, SQ_MILES, ACRES, HUNT, DESCRIPTIO; 3-digit sub-units (e.g. 6B, 5A) present; azgfdportal.com HabiMap MapServer deprecated (expired SSL cert).
License/source notes: Official AZGFD ArcGIS/Arizona HabiMap service; SSL/service availability may vary.
Open boundary sourceSpecies available
Starter list for this jurisdiction.
No species data yet.
Applications
State/province-specific plans, submitted applications, draw status, and spend.
No applications yet.