Arizona

Arizona Hunting License: Cost, Requirements & How to Apply (2026)

Complete guide to Arizona hunting license costs, requirements, seasons, and regulations for the 365 days from purchase season.

Last updated: March 2026

Resident License $37 General hunting

Non-Resident License $160 General hunting

Hunter Education Required Born after 1944-01-01

Online Purchase Yes 365 days from purchase

LICENSE FEES

Arizona Hunting License Fees 2026

Current hunting license costs for residents and non-residents. License year: 365 days from purchase.

Resident Licenses

Resident General Hunting $37 —

Resident Combo Hunt & Fish $57 —

Resident Youth Combo (10-17) $5 —

Resident Short-Term Combo (Per Day) $15 —

Resident Pioneer License (70+) Free —

Resident Lifetime Combo $1525 —

Non-Resident Licenses

Non-Resident Combo Hunt & Fish — $160

Non-Resident Youth Combo (10-17) — $5

Non-Resident Short-Term Combo (Per Day) — $20

Tags & Permits

Deer (Draw Permit) $58 $300

Deer (OTC Archery) $58 $300

Elk (Bull) $148 $650

Elk (Cow/Antlerless) $148 $650

Pronghorn Antelope $78 $465

Javelina $28 $115

Turkey (Draw) $18 $75

Bighorn Sheep $330 $1850

Buffalo/Bison $1585 $6285

Bear $18 $150

Mountain Lion $18 $125

Endorsements & Stamps

Federal Duck Stamp $25 Required for waterfowl hunters 16+; valid Jul 1 – Jun 30

HIP Certification Free Free; required for migratory bird hunters

Draw Application Fee $13 $13 res / $15 NR per species; non-refundable whether drawn or not

PointGuard $10 Optional $10/species; surrender permit & retain bonus points if unable to hunt

PointGuard Plus $25 Covers all species for 3 consecutive draw cycles; surrender & retain points

PURCHASE

How to Buy a Arizona Hunting License

Multiple convenient options to get your license quickly.

Buy Online (Recommended)

Visit azgfd.com and create a portal account. Purchase hunting or combo license. Apply for draw permits during application periods (Feb for elk/pronghorn, Jun for deer). Purchase OTC archery deer tags starting November 3. Check draw results on your portal account. Print or save licenses and permit-tags

Buy In Person

AZGFD offices statewide (Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Mesa, Pinetop), Walmart stores, Local sporting goods stores, Authorized license agents

Buy By Phone

Call 602-942-3000. Service fee may apply

Shop for hunting gear at our partners:

Bass Pro Shops → Cabela's → Amazon → Academy Sports →

Pro Tip

The easiest way to buy your Arizona hunting license is online through the Arizona Game & Fish Department. You'll get your license instantly and can start hunting right away.

EDUCATION

Hunter Education Requirements in Arizona

Who needs it: All hunters born on or after January 1, 1944

Online course: Available — Cost: Free

Field day required: Yes, in-person field day required

Minimum age: 10 years old

Apprentice/deferral program: Available — hunt under supervision while completing education

Military exemption: Yes, active duty military may be exempt

Start Your Hunter Education Course

EXEMPTIONS

Who Can Hunt for Free (or at a Discount) in Arizona?

Youth (10-17) $5 combo Full hunting + fishing combo for $5 regardless of residency; big game draw eligible

Pioneer (70+, 25yr) Free Free lifetime license for residents 70+ who've held AZ licenses 25+ consecutive years

Senior (70+) Reduced fees Reduced-fee licenses for Arizona residents 70+

Disabled Veteran (100%) Free license 100% service-connected disability; free license and reduced tag fees

Active Military Resident rates Active duty stationed in Arizona pay resident license fees

Children Under 10 Free with supervision Children under 10 may hunt small game with a licensed adult at no cost; cannot apply for big game draws

SEASONS

Arizona Hunting Seasons 2026-2027

Key hunting season dates and weapon restrictions.

Mule Deer/Coues Deer OTC Archery Aug 22 – Unit-specific Bow only; OTC tags available

Mule Deer/Coues Deer General Draw Oct-Dec – Unit-specific Rifle, muzzleloader, bow

Mule Deer/Coues Deer Late Season Draw Dec-Jan – Unit-specific Rifle, muzzleloader, bow

Elk Early Archery Sep – Unit-specific Bow only

Elk General Bull/Cow Oct-Dec – Unit-specific Rifle, muzzleloader, bow

Elk Late Season Cow Dec-Jan – Unit-specific Rifle, muzzleloader; population management

Pronghorn Antelope Draw (Rifle/Archery) Aug-Oct – Unit-specific Rifle, muzzleloader, bow

Javelina Spring HAM Draw Jan-Feb – Unit-specific Rifle, bow, muzzleloader, handgun

Javelina Fall HAM Draw Oct-Nov – Unit-specific Rifle, bow, muzzleloader

Turkey (Merriam's) Spring Apr-May – Unit-specific Shotgun, bow

Turkey (Merriam's) Fall Oct-Nov – Unit-specific Shotgun, bow, rifle

Dove Regular Sep 1 – Nov 15 Shotgun

Quail (Gambel's) Regular Oct 4 – Feb 8 Shotgun

Quail (Scaled/Mearns) Regular Dec 1 – Feb 8 Shotgun

Mountain Lion Year-Round (OTC) Jan 1 – Dec 31 Rifle, handgun, bow; hounds permitted

Cottontail/Jackrabbit Year-Round Jan 1 – Dec 31 Shotgun, rifle, bow

Duck/Waterfowl Regular Oct-Jan – Zone-specific Shotgun (non-toxic shot)

BAG LIMITS

Arizona Bag Limits

Daily and seasonal harvest limits for major game species.

Deer 1 1 per tag Coues whitetail and mule deer; unit-specific antler restrictions

Elk 1 1 One per permit-tag; Arizona bulls are among North America's largest

Pronghorn 1 1 One per permit-tag; buck or doe per permit type

Javelina 1 1 One per permit-tag per season

Turkey 1 1 Merriam's turkey; one per permit-tag

Dove 15 No season limit Mourning and white-winged combined; Arizona is a premier dove state

Quail (Gambel's) 15 No season limit Arizona is the #1 Gambel's quail destination in the US

Mountain Lion 1 1 One per tag; pursuit-only tags available for those who want to tree but not harvest

COMPARE

How Arizona Compares to Neighboring States

See how hunting license costs stack up in the region.

Arizona $37 $160

California $62.90 $219.81 Nevada $38 $155 Utah $40 $144 Colorado $38.49 $104.86 New Mexico $25 $90

Compare All 50 States

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona Hunting Licenses

How much is a hunting license in Arizona?

Resident general hunting costs $37, or $57 combo (hunt + fish). Non-residents must purchase the $160 combo — no standalone NR hunting license exists. Youth (10-17) pay only $5 regardless of residency. Short-term: $15/day (res) or $20/day (NR).

How does the Arizona draw system work?

Most big game requires lottery draw. Application fee: $13 (res) / $15 (NR) per species, non-refundable. Elk/pronghorn deadline: early February. Deer/sheep/bison deadline: early June. Bonus points increase odds. Results posted on your AZGFD portal account.

How hard is it to draw an elk tag in Arizona?

Very competitive — premium bull elk units take 15-20+ bonus points. Cow elk is easier (1-5 points). Arizona bulls average 330+ B&C — among North America's largest. Non-residents capped at 10% of tags per hunt code.

Can non-residents hunt OTC archery deer in Arizona?

Yes, Arizona offers 2,785 OTC archery deer tags for non-residents at $300 + $160 license ($460 total). Tags go on sale November 3 online. Units may close when harvest limits are met. No draw needed — first-come-first-served.

What is a Coues deer?

The Coues deer is Arizona's native whitetail subspecies, smaller than eastern whitetails (mature bucks 100-120 lbs). Arizona is THE premier Coues deer destination worldwide. They inhabit oak-juniper woodlands in the southeastern sky islands.

What is PointGuard in Arizona's draw system?

PointGuard ($10/species) lets you surrender a drawn permit-tag and retain your accumulated bonus points if you can't hunt that year. PointGuard Plus ($25) covers all species for 3 draw cycles. A smart insurance policy for serious applicants.

Can I hunt javelina in Arizona?

Yes, javelina hunting is available by draw — tags cost $28 (res) / $115 (NR). They're unique to the American Southwest. Spring and fall hunts in southern desert units. Some units offer OTC archery-only javelina. Application fee: $13/$15.

Can I buy an Arizona hunting license online?

Yes, at azgfd.com. Create a portal account first. All draw applications, OTC purchases, and license transactions are online. Youth ($5) and military licenses available online. Arizona licenses are valid 365 days from purchase date.