AZGFD Offers Big Game Hunting Opportunities

These apply to hunts into September and October.

The Arizona Game And Fish Department (AZGFD) once again has offered new hunting opportunities that will provide all hunters with a chance to draw an additional elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and pronghorn permit-tag, while generating revenue to support wildlife conservation efforts across the state.

Although the draw closed April 11, applicants who were drawn for a limited-entry permit-tag will be contacted by the department, at which time payment will be required before the permit-tag can be mailed. It is the responsibility of each applicant to provide accurate contact information to avoid missing an opportunity to receive the permit-tag for which they were drawn.

Differ From Annual Draws

These opportunities should not be confused with the annual draws that are conducted by the department in February, June and October. A limited-entry permit-tag application does not preclude a hunter from applying for any other hunts throughout the year or impact bonus points. Animals harvested during limited-entry permit-tag seasons are excluded from annual bag limits.

In Addition -

This is discretionary. The objective is to generate revenue in order to maintain current operations, and limit or eliminate the need to increase license and hunt permit-tag fees.

The issuance of a specific number of limited-entry permit-tags will not adversely affect management objectives for a species or area. These hunts will not impact the number of permit-tags made available for the annual draws. The related harvest will have an insignificant impact on wildlife populations.

• A valid Arizona hunting (or combination hunt and fish) license was not needed at the time of application; it is required if a customer draws a limited-entry permit-tag.

• Applicants could select up to seven limited-entry permit-tag hunts on one application. Multiple applications will not be accepted.

• At the time of application, a customer shall submit the required application fee ($13 for Arizona residents, $15 for nonresidents) for each selected hunt number.

• Each customer must apply individually. Applicants cannot apply as a group, unlike the annual draws.

• If a customer enters inaccurate information during the application process, or attempts to enter the draw for a hunt more than once, all applications will be deemed invalid.

• After an application has been saved, a customer cannot begin a new one. A customer may return to their application to make changes as long as the draw is open, however. When an application is completed and final payment is accepted, a customer can no longer make changes or apply for additional hunts.

Hunting Opportunities

A total of seven limited-entry permit-tags will be available for the following hunting opportunities:

Elk (any elk): Aug. 15, 2023-Oct. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, and 8.

Elk (any elk): Aug. 15, 2023-Oct. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 15A, 15B, 16A, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, and 20A.

Mule deer (antlered): Aug. 1, 2023-Sept. 10, 2023. Open areas: Units 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, and 4B.

Mule deer (antlered): Aug. 1, 2023-Sept. 10, 2023. Open areas: Units 28, 31, 32, 37A, and 37B.

White-tailed deer (antlered): Aug. 1, 2023-Sept. 10, 2023. Open areas: Units 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, and 36C.

White-tailed deer (antlered): Aug. 1, 2023-Sept. 10, 2023. Open areas: Units 21, 22, 23, 24A, and 24B.

Pronghorn (buck): Aug. 1, 2023-Oct. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17A, 17B, 19A, and 19B.

The elk, deer and pronghorn hunts are general season hunts. Legal methods of take: any firearm, pre-charged pneumatic weapon, crossbow, or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304.