Information to guide your application choices in Arizona
* There is no guarantee that nonresidents will draw all of their allotted tags in the Random Draw, so it is possible that the nonresident 10% cap may not be met in some hunt choices.
Source: United States Drought Monitor
Arizona strip mule deer taken with Shadow Valley Outfitter — A goHUNT Business Member
Arizona archery mule deer taken with Country Ventures — A goHUNT Business Member
INSIDER member Jesse De La Cruz with his son's Arizona mule deer taken with Arizona Trophy Outfitters — A goHUNT Business Member
Arizona Kaibab mule deer taken with High Point Outfitters — A goHUNT Business Member
Giant 209 7/8" Arizona OTC mule deer taken with Big Chino Guide Service — A goHUNT Business Member
Mule deer taken with Arizona Mountain Outfitters — A goHUNT Business Member
Arizona Coues deer with Ward's Outfitters — A goHUNT Business Member
Of all of the states in the West, Arizona has arguably the best hunting one state can offer. In addition to record book elk and antelope, mule deer, Coues whitetail, bison and Rocky Mountain and desert bighorn sheep can be found in the Grand Canyon State. Applying in Arizona is simple, but competitive, and you might be applying for a long time before you draw a tag. However, rest assured that when you do finally draw a tag, the wait will have been well worth it. Use GOHUNT’s INSIDER tools to gain the edge on the competition and, hopefully, you will soon be drawing the tag of a lifetime.
Note: The online application deadline for Arizona deer, bighorn sheep and bison is June 12, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. MST. You can apply online here.
Arizona’s draw system is based on bonus points, not preference points, which means everyone has a chance. Plus, with the new regulations regarding the draw, nonresidents have a greater chance of drawing some of the most coveted tags in the country.
The Kaibab Plateau (Units 12AE, 12AW) and Arizona Strip (Units 13A, 13B) in the northwest region of the state are famous for giant mule deer, but they are incredibly hard tags to draw (unless you're willing to bring a bow for the Kaibab rather than a rifle). For those who do not want to wait, Arizona has a lot of other great units. Several units offer trophy caliber mule deer hunting.
Coues whitetail are found throughout the lower two-thirds of Arizona. These unique deer inhabit only two states: Arizona and New Mexico. Fortunately, Arizona has far more Coues habitat, which means a larger Coues population. Hunters come to Arizona from all over the world to hunt these elusive deer.
Arizona has both Rocky Mountain and desert bighorn sheep. Hunters regularly take Boone & Crockett (B&C) rams from these legendary herds. While these units are nearly impossible to draw—especially for nonresidents—with the bonus point system and a random draw, there is still a chance to acquire a tag.
Arizona has a small, huntable population of bison. While tags are very limited, it is possible to draw a tag and hunt bison in Arizona—something few states in the West offer!
All of these reasons make Arizona the place to be when it comes to hunting for the trophy of a lifetime.
This unit has been split into two different hunts. See this breakdown on the unit profile here.
Unit 13A was split into two seasons, the Kanab Creek Hunt Area (12B West, 12A West and 13A) and the Cottonwood Wilderness Hunt Area (13A).
Unit boundary changes.
Unit 16AS/18B, and Unit 37B are now available to nonresidents for desert bighorn sheep and Unit 1/27 for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. See the tables below in the sheep section for a complete breakdown of nonresident units for 2018.
Unit 15D South was combined with unit 15D North in 2016 and 2017. In 2018 they will be split into two seperate seasons.
Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will no longer be printing draw odds in the regulations. Access the most accurate draw odds available through our Draw Odds page here. Since the change in the draw system in 2016, many nonresidents have the opportunity to draw tags that were previously unattainable for anyone who did not have a high number of points.
Using the standalone Draw Odds detail page for Arizona, you’ll quickly be able to see how the draw system change affected hunters with minimal points and for those max point holders.
In order to access the draw results, you must set up a portal account. You can do so here.
Arizona has redesigned its big game hunt permit tags and the hunter harvest questionnaire will now be included with your hunt permit tag. A unique QR scan code as well as a web link will be located on the back of hunt permit tags. Scan the code to access the hunter harvest questionnaire webpage; then, select your species.
This program was first available in 2016 and provides hunters with peace of mind in knowing that they can surrender their tag for any reason without losing their coveted bonus points. PointGuard coverage costs $5 per species. See more details here.
Drones are considered aircraft by AZGFD and it is illegal to use drones in any way to assist in the take of wildlife. This includes using drones while scouting.
If you're applying online, be sure to keep your credit card payment information current and up-to-date. If your payment is declined at the time of the draw, your application will not be drawn. AZGFD will no longer call customers to obtain payment on drawn applications where credit cards have failed. The deadline for updating your credit or debit card information online is 11:59 p.m. MST on June 28, 2018.
For 2018, GOHUNT offers antlerless/female draw odds for Arizona and many other states.
To review antlerless/female draw odds, log into your INSIDER account > hover over the INSIDER icon > select the “Draw Odds” link > select Arizona and then your residency > scroll to select the antlerless/female species you are interested in near the bottom right portion of the page.
Find your resident cow bison draw odds here
Find your nonresident cow bison draw odds here
To view important information and an overview of Arizona’s rules/regulations, the draw system and bonus points, tag and license fees and an interactive boundary line map, check out the Arizona State Profile.
Currently, 100% of the state is affected by moderate drought conditions and 97.07% is under extreme drought and 10.33% is under exceptional drought. While the winter was very mild in Arizona, the precipitation levels have been relatively low. Drought conditions are worse than last year when the state as a whole was in a moderate drought. However, in Arizona, the timing of moisture matters more than the amount of moisture. There is a general belief that precipitation in 2018 will be above-average, which is good news after experiencing below-average rainfall last year.
Some of Arizona's best deer habitat in the southern portion of the state experiences high illegal immigration traffic during hunting season since the daytime temperatures are more mild than in the summertime. Be alert and prepared to have your hunt affected by border activity if you draw a tag near the border of Mexico.
There is a small population of wolves in Arizona. Past surveys have confirmed the presence of a little over 100 wolves in the state, but these surveys were limited to only those which were visually seen. This means there are likely more wolves in the state than surveys might suggest; however, the population is still relatively small so their effect on wildlife should be minimal.
It is important to understand the draw system before you begin. There are three phases to the big game drawing: the bonus point pass, the first-second choice pass, and the third-fourth-fifth choice pass.
Your first and second choices are the most important on your application. If your application is chosen and your first choice is full, the system will immediately check your second choice. This means that you should view your second choice as being just as important in terms of the hunt you select as your first choice.
More information can be found on the Arizona State Profile about the specifics of the Arizona draw system.
For sheep, 20% of the combinded desert and rocky tags are set aside for the applicants with the most bonus points and 66 residents and 3 nonresidents have maximum bonus points going into the 2018 draw (see the points breakdown in the sheep section below).
Although bonus points factor in, Arizona’s draw system is also random, which means you could draw your most coveted tag with lower bonus points. It is always a good idea to apply for hunts regardless of how many points you have. If you know that you will not be able to hunt in Arizona this year, buy a bonus tag and forego the draw entirely.
Arizona has a bonus point system in place. There are four ways to increase your bonus points:
If you are successful in the draw, then your bonus points will revert back to zero. If you have earned a loyalty and/or hunter education point, then you will keep those indefinitely. If you fail to apply for five consecutive years, then all points will be lost.
Unlike many states, where if you don’t have the points you have no chance of getting a tag, Arizona gives hunters with only a few points a chance. Even if you don’t draw anything this year, you can get a bonus point to increase your chances next year. You can apply for bonus points only in Arizona, but you must buy a $160 nonrefundable hunting license and pay a $15 application fee per species.
Arizona has a very diverse array of deer habitat. In general, Arizona's deer herds have to fight drought conditions, but are not as affected by winter conditions due to more mild winters than other states in the West. This means that herds are in relatively good condition, though it is not always easy. To learn about herd conditions in a particular unit or area of the state, use Filtering 2.0 and then go into each unit profile; you can also check out the Arizona Mule Deer Species Profiles.
You can use Filtering 2.0 to find great hunts that might have otherwise flown under your radar. This revolutionary tool will allow you to select your exact criteria for your preferred hunt and will help you find the right season to hunt or apply for in a unit that fits all of your criteria.
Check out Filtering 2.0 or our standalone Draw Odds for even more options by entering in your points and minimum draw odds.
* There were no applications at the three and four point levels and draw odds were 70% at two points so it's likely that it would take fewer points to draw.
Male to female ratios are a critical measuring data tool for wildlife managers and indicate the current status of the herd. When selecting a unit, or comparing several units, take this into consideration to help your decision. For a complete understanding of male to female ratios, please refer to a recent article covering this in-depth. The best way to find the units with the best buck:doe ratios is to use Filtering 2.0 under Arizona mule deer, then sort the results by male:female ratio. You can jump to those results here.
Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are considered if any part of the unit is found within any part of the county. Data provided below courtesy of Boone and Crockett Club.
Coues deer and mule deer use the same bonus points pool.
2018 maximum bonus points for deer: 21
In this point range, there is little chance to draw one of Arizona’s most coveted tags, especially for nonresidents. If you are set on drawing one, then apply for hunts and don't be surprised when you don't draw a tag. If you are willing to accept a lesser tag in the higher profile units, apply for hunts that have tags available in the general pass, such as the archery hunts in Unit 12A East and Unit 12A West or in Unit 12B.
Additionally, think about other units such as Unit 8, Unit 9, Unit 10, Unit 22, Unit 20B, Unit 27, and even some of the southern units like 36A. These may be easier to draw, but are more difficult hunts. Drawing a tag will give you the necessary experience to make the most of those prime hunts down the road.
Residents and nonresidents with this many points are getting close to drawing great tags, so be careful. Again, if you are dead set on the premium Arizona Strip or Kaibab hunts, apply for those as your first and second choices and leave choices three through five blank. If you are itching to hunt mule deer, a few good choices are Unit 12A East and Unit 12A West, Unit 12B, Unit 3A, Unit 3C and Unit 27. If you are interested in desert mule deer, several units in the Yuma region are close to a guarantee for nonresidents at this point level. Trophy caliber units include Unit 39, Unit 40A, Unit 40B, Unit 42, Unit 45A, Unit 45B and Unit 45C. These hunts can be difficult, especially to the novice, but can produce quality bucks.
It still takes a minimum of 18 points for a nonresident to have a good chance of drawing the coveted Arizona Strip hunts (13A and 13B) and close to that for the late Kaibab hunts (12AE, 12AW). If you are still dead set on the premium hunts, continue putting in for only the hunts you want and keep being patient.
If you are willing to take your chances on an earlier Kaibab hunt, the draw odds are high for nonresidents in this category.
For bowhunters, Arizona has three archery hunts during the calendar year that can be hunted with an OTC permit. Since you have to purchase a license to apply for the draw, you should take full advantage of the OTC tag. In most cases, you can hunt the same unit you applied for in the draw (the OTC hunt is the early and late archery hunts whereas the draw hunt is the rifle hunt). This is a great way to scout your desired unit, if nothing else. You can check out these past Arizona OTC articles below. Stay tuned for more OTC articles this year.
Alternatively, use Filtering 2.0 to find the perfect OTC unit to hunt during the time that best fits your hunting schedule. Sort by trophy potential to see what great opportunity there is for OTC hunts!
The Coues whitetail is not a well-known subspecies of the whitetail family; however, in the Southwest, the miniature whitetail has a cult-like following. The B&C minimum for a typical Coues buck is just 110”. For detailed hunting strategies for Coues deer in Arizona, you can check out this recent article.
The Coues deer thrives in harsh conditions throughout its range. Coues deer herds are stable and even flourishing in some parts of the state. Regardless of the conditions, you can always be sure that the resilient Coues deer will find a way to thrive.
If you are willing to hunt south of the I-10 corridor where border traffic is high, then there are leftover Coues tags available every year in good units. Additionally, using the features of Filtering 2.0 will unveil several units to take a trophy Coues buck that often fly under the radar.
* Draw odds were 39% at 1 point and no applications at the 2 through 4 point levels.** Draw odds were 28% at 0 points and no applications at the 1 through 3 point levels.
Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of Boone and Crockett Club.
Coues deer and mule deer use the same bonus points pool.
2018 maximum bonus points for deer: 21
The truth of the matter is that you have a lot of options! There are several choices for hunts that have over a 75% draw rate; some of these hunts even have leftover tags. December rut hunts are certainly more scarce, but October hunts can be excellent options for those willing to put in the work of scouting and finding the bucks. Good units to take a respectable Coues buck (which also have good draw odds) include Unit 29, Unit 31, Unit 32, Unit 33 and Unit 36A/B/C. With no points, it will be tough to draw the coveted units; however, there is always the OTC option if you are willing to leave your rifle and bring a bow instead.
With this many points, you've got a chance of drawing a really great hunt. Residents looking for a rut hunt have decent odds in the high country units, including Unit 6A, Unit 6B, Unit 8 and Unit 27. Nonresident chances are high for units south of I-10, including Unit 29, Unit 30A and Unit 36A/B/C. You can also look at earlier hunts in the more coveted units like Unit 22, Unit 23, Unit 32 and Unit 33.
Draw odds details page links with 4 points
Draw odds details page links with 10 points
Residents and nonresidents alike have high odds for coveted December Coues whitetail tags in this point range (and you could draw pretty much any Coues deer tag in the state). In this case, the Mogollon Rim, Unit 22 and Unit 23 are hard to beat along with Unit 32 and Unit 33 in the south.
Arizona has leftover deer tags every year. Most of these tags are for Coues whitetail in areas south of Tucson. These tags are leftover because they occur in remote regions of the state with a higher frequency of border issues from illegal crossing; however, these hunts can produce quality bucks. Leftover tags are acquired by a first come, first served process — first by mail beginning on July 23, 2018, and then at any AZGFD office. Proceed with caution, but enjoy the hunt.
The following warning is from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“Unit 36B is a corridor for the trafficking of undocumented aliens (UDAs) and drugs. Hunters will see the trails and trash left by these people. Hunters are urged to use caution when hunting and camping in Unit 36B or any of the other border units. It is advisable to use some sort of visible anti-theft device on your vehicle, for vehicle thefts have increased the past two years. Having a group of UDAs walk through a hunting area may negatively affect your hunt. The key to hunting in the border units is the ability to flex and adapt. To report UDAs, call the Border Patrol at 1-877-872-7435, or in the case of an emergency, dial 911.”
There are also lots of OTC Coues deer hunting opportunities in Arizona. You can utilize Filtering 2.0 to unlock some hidden gem OTC hunts.
Arizona is one of the few states to have huntable populations of both desert bighorn and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Arizona also has great trophy potential. For 2018, there will be a total of 111 sheep tags available: 95 for desert bighorn sheep and 16 for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Nonresidents can only apply for units with two or more tags.
Most sheep herds are doing well. Unfortunately, Arizona has had a disease problem in Unit 15 (BW, C, D) in the western portion of the state that may affect older ram sightings and harvests in 2018. Any hunter who draws a tag in these units should expect to see some impacts and maybe even diminished herd quality.
Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of Boone and Crockett Club.
With only seven units to choose from, draw odds for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are slim at best. Over the last few years, Arizona has provided hunters with several rams that have surpassed the 175” mark. With only a few unit options available—and nearly all of the tags drawn by resident applicants—nonresidents hoping to pull an Arizona tag will have a long wait.
The herd is small in Arizona, but conditions are stable with big rams harvested within the state over the past several years.
Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of Boone and Crockett Club.
Arizona desert bighorns and Rocky Mountain bighorns use the same bonus points pool.
2018 maximum bonus points for desert bighorn sheep: 29
Because of the random draw, there is always a chance for nonresidents, though a slim one. If you want the best shot at drawing a tag without maximum points, follow a few rules: First, always apply for hunts with multiple tags. Second, avoid the premium hunts; those tags will be taken by residents in the bonus pass. For desert bighorns, these units include Unit 22, Unit 24B, Unit 31 and Unit 32. All other units offer a valid chance. All of the Unit 15 sub-units have suffered a disease outbreak, making older rams less plentiful; it would be wise to avoid these units in 2018. Residents should follow the same path. Always apply for the hunt you want and do not settle for purchasing a bonus point instead. You only have as many chances as years you apply, so apply and hope for the best.
You’ve waited this long—you will be drawing the tag you've been waiting for very shortly. The leading desert bighorn units are still Unit 22, Unit 24B, Unit 31, Unit 32 and Unit 44B North. If you are interested in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, the best units remain Unit 6A, Unit 22 and Unit 27 in 2018.
Arizona offers the unique opportunity to harvest a trophy bison although these opportunities are limited. The general bison hunts occur in Unit 5A, Unit 5BN and Unit 5BS on the Raymond Ranch and these hunts are for cow or yearling only. These hunts require the hunter be accompanied by an AZGFD employee who designates which animal can be taken. Bison hunts on the Kaibab and Arizona Strip are more challenging, but also more rewarding. All of these hunts occur in the same three units (12AW, 12B and 13A) and are limited opportunity hunts. There are separate seasons for rifle, muzzleloader and archery that run from August through the end of December.
Because bison do not succumb to predation like other big game species in Arizona and because they are quite nomadic—always moving to an optimal range—bison are thriving on the Kaibab and Arizona Strip.
Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of Boone and Crockett Club.
2018 maximum bonus points for bison: 47
Tags are generally drawn by residents with over 25 points due to most tags being gone in the bonus point pass. All trophy bison hunts occur in the same unit group: 12AW, 12B and 13A, which means that there are really only two decisions to make: when can you hunt and what type of hunt are you looking for? Select a hunt that fits both your calendar and your preferred hunting method. If you are willing to hunt bison without the possibility of a trophy, the hunts in Unit 5A, Unit 5BN and Unit 5BS could be a great option. You can't draw if you don't apply.
The deadline to apply is June 12 at 11:59 p.m. MST. You can apply online here.
If applying online, only Visa or Mastercard will be accepted.
Up to 10% of the available tags for any hunt code can be awarded to nonresidents.
If you are unsuccessful in the draw, then you will be awarded a bonus point for that species.
The Arizona Big Game Super Raffle drawing will be held July 26, 2018. More information can be found here.
If you already know that you cannot go on a hunt in Arizona, but want to accumulate bonus points, purchase a bonus point.
If you can go on a hunt, always apply for a hunt number and do not purchase a point regardless of your already accumulated points. Although bonus points factor in, Arizona’s draw system is random and you only have a chance if you apply for a hunt.
Make sure to enter all of your personal application information correctly on your application, whether paper or online.
Verify you are applying for the hunt you intended to apply for. This is especially important when applying online using the drop-down feature.
Create an account on the AZGFD website.
Earn a bonus point each time you are unsuccessful in the draw (one point per year).
Or apply for “bonus points only” to gain a bonus point in the event that you do not want to risk drawing a tag until you have a higher number of points.
You can also travel to Arizona and take a hunter education course and earn a permanent bonus point.
Earn a permanent loyalty point. An applicant is awarded this point by applying for a species for five consecutive years. This is also a species-specific point and this permanent point will not be taken away when you draw a tag.
Select state.
Select species.
Adjust the Trophy Slider to your desired size (e.g. 170”+).
Click whether you are a resident or nonresident and indicate how many points you currently possess.
Select your minimum percentage of odds for drawing the tag. This can be very good for weeding out units with unlimited (100%) tags.
Select which season(s) you are wishing to hunt. Have other hunts going on throughout the fall? You can also set your date parameters and Filtering will automatically find what's in season that time of the year.
Choose what harvest percentages you would like to see in the units.
Lastly, click on any of the remaining units to read in-depth profiles containing valuable information.
