Hunting Seasons and Dates

When Can I Hunt in Arizona?

Before heading out, make sure you have your hunting license and tags in order — and all the information needed to plan your trip.

Arizona’s big game hunting follows an application-based point system and a tag draw process. Once you receive your tag, check the specific season dates that correspond to it, as open dates vary by species and tag type.

We provide the most current information available from the Arizona Game & Fish Department and will continue to update this resource as new season dates are released.

Pronghorn

Season dates vary based on Hunt Areas. Check the Pronghorn and Elk Guide for specifics.

• General: September 5 – 14, September 12 – 18, or October 3 – 12, 2025
• Muzzleloader: September 5 – 14 or October 3 – 12, 2025
• Archery: August 22 – September 4 or August 22 – September 11, 2025

Deer

Dates vary based on the open Hunt Areas.

• Archery: dates range from August 22, 2025 - January 31, 2026
• Muzzleloader:
  • Youth: October 3 – 12, 2025 or November 21 – 30, 2025
  • General: Dates vary starting October 10 thru December 31, 2025
• Firearms (General): Dates vary from October 25 – December 31
• Youth: Dates vary starting October 3 thru November 30, 2025

Elk

Season dates vary based on Hunt Areas.

• Archery: Dates vary with the earliest opening date ofAugust 1, 2025
• Muzzleloader: Dates vary with the earliest opening date of September 26, 2025
• Firearms (General): Dates vary with the earliest opening day of September 12, 2025.
• Youth: October 3 – 12 or October 10 – 16, 2025

Note that hunters have additional elk hunting opportunities with limited season (HAMs – handgun, archery, muzzleloader, shotgun) dates. Check with Arizona state officials for more details.

Turkey

Spring

Season dates vary based on the turkey subspecies (Merriam's or Gould's) and the Hunt Numer.

• Limited Weapon-Shotgun Shooting Shot:April 25 – May 1, 2025, May 2 – 22, 2025, or May 9 – 22, 2025
• Youth Only LImited Weapon Shotgun Shooting Shot:April 18 – 24 and May 9 – 22, 2025
• Youth Only Non-Permit Tag (Limited Weapon Shotgun Shooting): April 18 – 24 and May 9 – 22, 2025
• Archery-Only:
  • Gould's Turkey:
  • Merriam's Turkey: May 9 – 22, 2025

Fall

• Archery Nonpermit Tag: August 22 – September 11, 2025
• Archery Permit Tag: August 29 – September 11, 2025
• Limited Weapon Shotgun: October 3 – 9, 2025
• Youth: October 3 – 9, 2025 or October 3 – 13, 2025

Javelina

• Spring Archery: January 1 – 23, 2025
• Archery Only (Non-Permit, Check Open Areas): January 1 – December 31, 2025
• HAM Spring: February 17 – 17, 2025
• General (Non-Permit): January – December 31, 2025
• Youth (General): Dates vary starting October 3 – November 20, 2025

Bear Season

Spring

• General Non-Permit (Dates Vary for Certain Zones): March 21 – April 24, 2025

Fall

• General: Dates vary based Hunt Area starting August 8, 2025
• Archery Only: Dates vary starting August, 2025

Bison

• General: Dates vary starting August 1 – December 23, 2025 based on Hunt Number.
• Limited Opportunity (General):
  • Hunt #7512: September 12 – October 1, 2025
  • Hunt #7513: October 17 – 30, 2025
  • Hunt #7514: November 7 – December 31, 2025

Coyote

• General 1 (Statewide): July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
• General 2 (Specific Units): December 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026

Coyote hunting is available year-round across the state and is broken into two date ranges. Be sure to check the units that are open during General 2 hunting dates before heading out after those coyotes.

Small Game

• Tree Squirrel:
  • General (Statewide): October 3, 2025 – January 31, 2026
  • General (Open Area 31): July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
  • General (Open Area 33: September 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
  • Limited Weapon: October 3, 2025 – January 31, 2026
  • Archery: August 22 – October 2, 2025 or August 22 –September 11, 2025
• Cottontail Rabbit: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (with some exceptions based on Open Areas)
• Pheasant:
  • Limited Weapon: September 1 – 15, 2025
  • Archery: October 17, 2025 – February 8, 2026
• Quail: October 17, 2025 – February 8, 2026 or December 5, 2025 – February 8, 2026
• Chukar Partridge: September 1, 2025 – February 8, 2026
• Grouse: September 1 – November 9, 2025
• Sandhill Crane: Dates vary based on hunting area starting November 14, 2025
• Dove:
  • Statewide Early Season: September 1 – 15, 2025
  • Statewide Late Season: November 21, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Statewide Eurasian Collared Season: September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026
• Bandtailed Pigeon: September 26 – October 9, 2025

Bighorn Sheep

Dates vary based on Hunt Areas. The earliest open season begins October 1, 2025.

Mountain Lion

General, Archery, Pursuit: August 22, 2025 – May 31, 2026