Arizona hunting and fishing laws
The Arizona rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Arizona
Applies to: Big game
No one under the age of 14 may take big game without having completed a Hunter Education Course. No one under age 10 may take big game in Arizona. Hunter education is therefore mandatory for ages 10 through 13 before big game.
Minimum hunting age in Arizona
Arizona residents and nonresidents 10 years and older need a valid hunting license, with a youth license covering ages 10 through 17. A person under 10 may hunt wildlife other than big game without a license only when accompanied by a properly licensed person 18 years or older. No apprentice or mentor program was found.
Blaze orange in Arizona
Arizona does not require hunter orange while hunting. Wearing it is still recommended so other hunters can see you.
Sunday hunting in Arizona
Arizona has no Sunday hunting closure. Seasons run every day of the week, and hunts open and close on Sundays.
Shooting hours in Arizona
Legal shooting time is during daylight hours, per the sunrise-sunset chart, or as prescribed by the Commission. Arizona does not use the half-hour-either-side rule that neighboring states use.
Baiting in Arizona
Applies to: Big game
A.A.C. R12-4-303: a person shall not place edible or ingestible substances for the purpose of attracting or taking big game, with limited exceptions for water, salt and livestock-related materials. Bear is big game and no separate bear allowance was found. Baiting is also expressly prohibited on National Wildlife Refuges.
Night hunting in Arizona
Taking wild animals or birds by moonlight or artificial light is illegal, except for raccoons, reptiles and other mammals as prescribed in R12-4-304. R12-4-303 also bars electronic night vision equipment, electronically enhanced light-gathering devices, thermal imaging devices or laser sights projecting a visible light while taking wildlife.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Arizona
R12-4-305 requires that evidence of legality remains with the carcass or parts of a carcass of any wildlife that the person possesses, transports, or imports, and that big game has the required valid tag attached in the manner indicated on the tag. Keep the license on your person and the tag affixed during transport. No evidence-of-sex requirement was located.
Hunting on private land in Arizona
You must have written or verbal permission from private property owners for use of their legally posted private lands for any purpose including crossing these lands.
Can you show your Arizona license on your phone?
Digital license yes. Big game e-tags optional.
Arizona sells licenses online and the Arizona E-Tag app delivers “licenses and big game tags purchased or drawn” to your phone. Hunters who opt in can “electronically tag a harvested animal”; “opting in and the use of the app is voluntary,” and paper tags remain an option. “Cell service is not required for some functions such as tagging your animal.” E-tags are “not available for falconers or sandhill crane hunters.”
License on phone; paper tag unless opted into e-tag
Arizona hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — general rifle | Oct 30 – Nov 8, 2026 | Units 7 and 9 (hunt 1009) | Any antlered deer; draw permit. Dates vary by hunt number |
| Mourning/white-winged dove — early | Sep 1 – Sep 15, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Mourning/white-winged dove — late | Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 | Statewide | |
| Band-tailed pigeon | Sep 25 – Oct 8, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Ducks — regular season | Oct 23, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Statewide | Geese and snipe same dates; scaup Nov 7-Jan 31 |
What you can hunt in Arizona
Big game
- Mule deer Draw or limited entry Some over-the-counter archery tags
- Coues white-tailed deer Draw or limited entry
- Elk Draw or limited entry Limited nonpermit tags exist
- Pronghorn Draw or limited entry
- Desert bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Very few tags
- Bison Draw or limited entry House Rock and Raymond
- Javelina Draw or limited entry Archery javelina is a nonpermit tag
- Black bear General season Unit harvest-limit closures
- Mountain lion General season Over-the-counter tag
- Wild pig No season No feral swine season
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey Draw or limited entry Junior hunts are nonpermit
- Quail General season Gambel's, scaled, California, Mearns'
- Chukar General season
- Dusky grouse General season
- Pheasant General season
- Cottontail and jackrabbit General season
- Tree squirrel General season Mount Graham red squirrel excluded
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove General season Mourning, white-winged, Eurasian
- Band-tailed pigeon General season
- Sandhill crane Draw or limited entry Permit hunts only
Furbearer and predator
- Coyote, bobcat, fox General season Year round with a hunting license
What you can fish for in Arizona
Fishing license — no trout stamp, no two-pole stamp
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow trout General season
- Brown trout General season
- Brook trout General season
- Cutthroat trout General season
- Tiger trout General season
- Arctic grayling General season
- Apache trout General season Delisted native; avoid recovery streams in summer
- Gila trout General season Five open waters; Dude and Grapevine creeks are catch and release
Warmwater
- Largemouth bass General season
- Smallmouth bass General season
- Striped bass General season
- White and yellow bass General season
- Walleye General season
- Northern pike General season
- Channel and flathead catfish General season
- Crappie General season
- Bluegill and sunfish General season
- Yellow perch General season
Other
- Carp and tilapia General season Bowfishing
- Native minnows and suckers No season 23 protected natives — release immediately
Official Arizona links
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Carry your Arizona license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state