AZGFD Hunting Calendar

Don't Miss Your Opportunity!

Compiled By Margie Anderson

Make sure you don’t miss an opportunity to hunt! Keep an eye on the Arizona Game and Fish website at azgfd.gov so you know when the latest regulation booklets are available. Applications are online only starting in January 2022. Don’t miss out!

Draw deadlines for spring javelina, spring bear, spring turkey, and spring bison will be the second Tuesday in October pending commission approval.

You can buy tickets for the Big Game Raffle now at http://www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com

Tickets range in price from $10-$25. Winners of the AZ Special Tags have the opportunity to hunt year-round for the species they won. There are many other great prizes as well, so be sure to check it out. DEADLINE FOR ONLINE ORDERS IS JULY 10!

CHANGES TO POINTGUARD

• For $25, an applicant will have the opportunity to surrender a hunt permit-tag and have their bonus points reinstated for all eligible big game species for three consecutive draw cycles from the date of purchase.

• PointGuard Plus can be purchased from the time of completing an online application, right up to the deadline to update credit card or debit card information (prior to AZGFD processing hunt applications). The fee is non-refundable.

• Those who purchase PointGuard Plus will receive priority positioning for the reissuing of hunt permit-tags that are surrendered by PointGuard members and non-members alike.

• A free AZGFD portal account is not required to purchase PointGuard Plus. A portal account is still needed for those applicants wishing to view their draw results, however.

• PointGuard Plus is completely discretionary.

And PointGuard?

• Like PointGuard Plus, standard PointGuard is available to all applicants when applying online for a hunt permit-tag.

• PointGuard is $10 per species (an increase of $5), per applicant, and also can be purchased from the time of completing an online application until the deadline to update credit card or debit card information. The fee is non-refundable.

• Only one hunt permit-tag may be surrendered, per species. If an applicant is drawn in the future for that particular species, that hunt-permit tag must be used, expending all accumulated bonus points. Only then may an applicant participate again in PointGuard (and PointGuard Plus).

• A free AZGFD portal account is not required to purchase PointGuard. A portal account is still needed for those applicants wishing to view their draw results, however.

• PointGuard is completely discretionary.

2021-22 Fees:

General Hunting, resident: $37; Non-resident: not available see combination

Combination Hunt and fish, resident: $57; Non-resident: $160

Youth combination hunt and fish (ages 10-17), resident: $5 Non-resident: $5

Short-term combination license, resident: $15/day, Non-resident: $20/day

You can now auto-renew your hunting and fishing license if you have an AZGFD portal account. See the details at azgfd.com.

There are also fees for permit-tags and nonpermit-tags. See the 2021-2022 Hunting Regulations at http://www.azgfd.com for details. Watch for the 2022-2023 regulations to come out in early summer/late spring.

Over The Counter Non-Permit Tags

There are many opportunities to go hunting that do not require hunters to submit an application for a hunt permit-tag via the Draw.

Referred to as over-the-counter tags, these permits are available for purchase from department offices and in many cases from license dealers.

Species and hunts available are: archery-only deer (some unit restrictions); limited opportunity elk; mountain lion; bear; archery-only javelina and juniors-only turkey (shotgun only).

Arizona’s over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer hunting opportunity will continue for the 2022-2023 hunts, but harvest limits have been set by unit and by species.

This approach is in accordance with hunt guidelines (www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Guidelines/) approved April 1, 2022, by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Harvest limits were set at 20 percent of the estimated harvest for a unit and species. Failure to report a harvest, as well as hunting in a closed unit, will be strictly enforced.

All over-the-counter archery deer hunters will be required to report their harvest either online or by phone within 48 hours of taking their deer (details to be published in the 2022-2023 Arizona Hunting Regulations booklet). When the number of deer equaling the archery deer harvest limit for a particular unit and species has been reported, the unit will be closed to further archery deer hunting at sundown the Wednesday immediately following.

Hunters will be responsible for checking online or by telephone before hunting to determine if their desired hunt unit is still open. The department’s website will be updated continuously to reflect the number of deer harvested and whether a harvest limit has been reached and a unit is closed.

The 2022-2023 Arizona Hunting Regulations will be posted online in early May at http://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/.

Report Vandalism: 1-800-VANDALS

Report poachers: Operation Game Thief 800-352-0700 rewards for information that results in an arrest.

Be sure to check the hunting regulations carefully before you hunt. Many of the following hunts have notes and legal requirements listed. You must check the regulations. Pick up a paper copy at outdoor stores, Game and Fish offices, or go online at http://www.azgfd.com and click on regulations to download the booklet. “Open areas” have restrictions beyond what is listed here. ALL HUNTS require a valid hunting license or combination license. Hunters under 10 need a license or they must be accompanied by an adult who possesses a valid license. Falconry-only hunts require a Sport Falconry License. See regulations for daily limits and bag limits. This calendar is for convenience only. You must read and follow the hunting regulations found in the booklets and pamphlets available at http://www.azgfd.com and at retailers where licenses are sold.

WHAT TO HUNT RIGHT NOW:

SMALL GAME:

General tree squirrel

Unit 31: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 (year round)Tassel-eared tree squirrel.

Cottontail Rabbityear-round. Open areas statewide except National Wildlife Refuges, and 11M, 25M, 26M, and 38M. Any cottontail.

Cottontail rabbit in Buenos Aires, and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuges:Jul 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 (year-round) any cottontail rabbit.

Cottontail rabbit limited weapon (shotgun shooting shot):year-round. Open areas except National Wildlife Refuges) any cottontail rabbit.

Falconry-only cottontail rabbit: year-round. Open areas except National Wildlife Refuges any cottontail rabbit.

PREDATORY AND FUR-BEARING MAMMALS

Coyote and skunk: year-round. Open areas statewide except National Wildlife Refuges and Units 11M, 25M, 26M, and 38M.

Coyote and skunk Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge: year-round

Coyote, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge: year-round

Coyote and skunk limited weapon (shotgun shooting shot): year-round. Open areas statewide except National Wildlife Refuges.

OTHER BIRDS AND MAMMALS

House sparrow and European starling: year-round. Open areas statewide except National Wildlife Refuges and Units 11M, 25M, 26M, and 38M.

Gunnison’s prairie dog: July 1, 2022 – Mar 31, 2023Open areas north of the Gila River excluding National Wildlife Refuges, and Units 11M, 25M, 26M, and 38M)

All mammals EXCEPT game mammals, fur-bearing mammals, predatory mammals, bats, coati, black-footedferret, New Mexico jumping mouse, Gunnison’s prairie dog, black-tailed prairie dog, jaguar, jaguarundi, ocelot, otter, porcupine and wolves: year-round. Open areas Statewide (excluding National Wildlife Refuges, Units 11M, 25M, 26M, and 38M)

Jackrabbit Open Areas statewide including Buenos Aires and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife refuges, excluding all other Refuges and Units 11M, 25M, 26M, and 38M: year-round

Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge: Aug 20, 2021 – Feb 24, 2022.

Limited weapon (shotgun shooting shot) English house sparrows and European starling: year-round. Open areas statewide except National Wildlife Refuges.

Limited weapon (shotgun shooting shot) Gunnison’s prairie dog Unit 11M: year-round.

Limited weapon (shotgun shooting shot) All mammals EXCEPT game mammals, furbearing mammals, predatory mammals, bats, coati, black-footedferret, New Mexico jumping mouse, Gunnison’s prairie dog, black-tailed prairie dog, jaguar, jaguarundi, ocelot, otter, porcupine and wolves: year-round. Open areas statewide except National Wildlife Refuges.

Falconry-only seasons for Sparrows and Starlings, crow, coati, Gunnison’s Prairie Dog, others: see regulations.

REPTILES A hunting or combination license is required for taking reptiles. A Fishing or combination license is required for taking softshell turtles. See regulations booklet for list of legal reptiles and taking methods.

General Reptiles: year-round – see regulations for areas, limits, and closed areas.