Arizona Hunting Seasons: Updated


This page of Arizona hunting seasons is updated annually. While Thepredatorhunter.com focuses on coyotes, fox, and bobcats, it is hoped other game hunters will take up predator hunting as well. We suggest you check out these predator hunting links specific to the state of Arizona:

Purchase a hunting license in Arizona here.

Learn the rules for hunting coyotes in Arizona.

Learn the rules for hunting bobcats in Arizona.

Learn the rules for hunting fox in Arizona.

Arizona Hunting Seasons
Arizona Hunting Seasons.

Due to the many regions, it is recommended you check the main Arizona hunting page for updates and specific information.

Arizona hunting seasons for Desert Mule Deer.

Rifle Season Dates:

October 28-31, 2022

Nov 11-14, 2022

Arizona hunting seasons for Coues Deer.

Non Rut Rifle: Oct 21-27, 2022

Non Rut Rifle: Nov 4-10, 2022

Rut Late Rifle:Dec 9-31, 2022

Rut Archery Only: Jan 1-31, 2023

Arizona hunting season for Antelope.

Rifle/Muzzleloader: Sept. 2-11, 2022

Arizona hunting seasons for Elk.

Early Bull Elk.

Archery Bull: Sept. 9-22, 2022

Rut Rifle Bull: Sept. 23-29, 2022

Rut Muzzleloader Bull: Sept. 23-29, 2022

Late Bull Elk.

Late Muzzleloader Bull Hunt:  Nov 11-16, 2022 

Late Rifle Bull Hunt:  Nov 25 – Nov 30, 2022

Arizona hunting season for Desert Bighorn Sheep.

December 1 – December 31 each year.

Arizona hunting seasons for waterfowl.

Season DatesOpen AreasLegal Wildlife
Oct 23, 2021 – Jan 31, 202Desert ZoneDucks, excluding scaup
Oct 1, 2021 – Jan 9, 2022Mountain ZoneDucks, excluding scaup
Nov 7, 2021 – Jan 31, 2022Desert ZoneScaup
Oct 16, 2021 – Jan 9, 2022Mountain ZoneScaup

Arizona hunting license.

A valid Arizona license is required for taking wildlife (including fish) in Arizona. The licensee shall carry the license when participating in hunting or fishing or other form of take. Take means pursuing, shooting, hunting, fishing, trapping, killing, capturing, snaring, or netting wildlife. Wildlife includes all wild mammals, wild birds, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans and fish.

Arizona hunting license renewal.

Things to know before opting for license auto-renewal:

  • License auto-renewal is only available for the following licenses: ​​​​​​​Resident Hunt, Resident Fish, Resident Hunt/Fish Combo, Nonresident Fish, Nonresident Hunt/Fish Combo.
  • Customers must have an AZGFD portal account to add license auto-renewal. Customers should use their existing portal account. If assistance is needed to fix an existing portal account, email customer service at customer@azgfd.gov. Do not create a new portal account if one already exists.
  • Any credit card added to a portal account specifically for license auto-renewal will NOT be used for draw applications or any other AZGFD product.

Three steps to auto-renew a license:

1. Purchase a license, or use a valid license. Licenses can be purchased online at https://license.azgfd.com/. Log in to your portal account. On the next screen that appears, go to the “Manage Your Account” option and select “View Details.”

2. Add a credit card to be used to auto-renew a license.

– On the next screen after completing the step above, go to the “Manage License Auto Renew” option and select the “Manage” button.
– On the next screen, select “Add Card” (Visa, Mastercard, and Discover accepted). Ensure that the expiration date for the credit card is later than the expiration date of the valid license.
– The next screen requires consent to enter the credit card information in a secure, payment-processing center. Select “Add Card.”
– The next screen is where billing information and payment details can be entered or changed. Select “Next” at the bottom to be taken to a page to review the  order. NOTE: The amount shown will be $0.00 because the credit card won’t be charged until the license expires and is automatically renewed. Select “Pay” to complete the transaction.
​​​​​​​ – Select “Print” to print a copy of the receipt, and/or “Return to Website.”

3. Select the license(s) to be auto-renewed.

– After returning to the website, select “View Details” on the “My AZGFD Dashboard” tile.
– On the next screen, go to “Licenses” and select “View All Licenses.”
– The next screen shows all of the licenses. Select “Add” for any of the listed licenses to be auto-renewed. Trying to auto-renew before adding a credit card will prompt a reminder to first add a credit card (see Step 2).
– The next screen is a confirmation page. Selecting “Yes” gives AZGFD permission to automatically charge the card to auto-renew the license when the license expires. An email confirmation will indicate that the customer has signed up for auto-renew and for which license(s).
– The customer will be returned to the “My Dashboard” screen, and the process is complete.

To remove the auto-renew function from a license, click “View Details” on the “My AZGFD Dashboard” tile. On the “License” tile, click “View All Licenses.” The next screen shows all purchased licenses. Select “Remove” for those to no longer be auto-renewed. This will prompt a confirmation notice.

To update or change a credit card on file, go to the “Manage Your Account” option and select “View Details.” On the next screen, select “Manage License Renewal.” On the next screen, select “Update Card.” On the next screen, also select “Update Card.” The next screen provides the option to edit a billing address or payment details. Select “Finish,” then make the necessary changes on the next screen, review all changes and select “Finish,” then “Return to Website.” A confirmation will be generated that the credit card has been successfully updated.

More information:

  • An email will be sent 10 days before the expiration of the licenses enrolled in auto-renew, notifying customers who have enrolled and added their credit card of the upcoming charge.
  • An email will be sent on a successful transaction of auto-renew, including a link to access/print the new license.
  • An email will be sent on an unsuccessful attempt to auto-renew. The customer must then repurchase a new license on their own, then add auto-renew to that new license  to continue with license auto-renewal.

Customers can call 602-942-3000 or email licensesupport@azgfd.gov for questions or problems.

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr.

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr. is a former Marine Sergeant and the author of several books, including two on night hunting coyotes and red and gray fox. He has written several hundred articles on predator hunting for ThePredatorHunter.com.

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