NEWS RELEASE
Sept. 2, 2025
PHOENIX — With the opening of the 2026 spring hunt draw right around the corner, hunters are encouraged to take advantage of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) innovative mobile application to modernize the tagging process — Arizona E-Tag.
After downloading the free app from the Apple or Google Play stores, a hunter’s next step is to opt-in to receive an electronic big-game permit through his or her AZGFD portal account (this is not an option selected through the draw). It’s important to update to the most recent version of the app, which is compatible with both Apple and android products.
The app provides real-time delivery of licenses and big-game permits purchased or drawn after the app has been downloaded. The app also provides a hunter with the convenience of being able to electronically tag a harvested animal and complete the hunter questionnaire.
Another benefit of Arizona E-Tag: The app provides AZGFD biologists with more complete hunt data from which to make hunt recommendations — and it’s from those recommendations that the Arizona Game and Fish Commission establishes rules and policy. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/etag.
Hunters who choose to download the app and receive their big-game tags electronically will be able to:
- Receive an electronic copy of big-game permits on an electronic device, eliminating the need to keep paper copies.
- Electronically tag harvested big game in the field and complete harvest reporting.
- View hunting and fishing licenses.
- View and manage licenses, as well as big-game permits, for authorized dependent accounts.
- Hunters can choose a material of their choice, such as flagging or tape, to attach a unique validation code (provided in the app during the tagging process) to their animal following a harvest.
As a reminder, opting-in to receive an electronic big-game permit is optional. It is not required to participate in a draw. Any big-game permits that were drawn or purchased before the app has been downloaded will not appear as an electronic tag.