Hunting

Over-the-counter Archery Deer Hunting

Archery Harvest Report

Harvest Limit & Season Status

Arizona’s over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer hunting opportunity will continue for the 2022-2023 hunts, but harvest limits have been set by unit and by species.

The changes will enable AZGFD to better track hunter harvest and participation.

This approach is in accordance with hunt guidelines approved April 1, 2022, by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Harvest limits were set at 20 percent of the estimated harvest for a unit and species. Failure to report a harvest, as well as hunting in a closed unit, will be strictly enforced.

All over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer hunters will be required to report their harvest either online or by telephone, 623-236-7961, within 48 hours of taking their deer.

Harvest limits

When the number of deer equaling the archery deer harvest limit for a particular unit and species has been reported, that unit will be closed to further archery deer hunting at sundown the Wednesday immediately following.

Hunters will be responsible for checking online or by telephone, 623-236-7961 before hunting to determine if their desired unit is still open. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) website will be updated continuously to reflect the number of deer harvested and whether a harvest limit has been reached and a unit is closed.

For more information, consult the “2022-2023 Arizona Hunting Regulations.” Printed versions are available at license dealers statewide.

Valid license, nonpermit-tag required

To participate in Arizona’s over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer season, hunters must be in possession of a valid Arizona hunting license (or combination hunt and fish license) and an archery deer nonpermit-tag. An archery deer nonpermit-tag can be purchased from a license dealer or at any AZGFD office statewide. An archery deer nonpermit-tag will remain valid for a single calendar year.

Bag limit

One deer per calendar year. If hunters harvest a deer during the over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer season, they may not harvest another deer (archery or general hunts) during that calendar year.

Mandatory reporting

All over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer hunters are required to report their harvest either online or by telephone, 623-236-7961, within 48 hours of taking their deer. Failure to report a harvest, as well as hunting in a closed unit, will be strictly enforced.

All successful hunters will be required to provide their name, telephone number, hunting license number, nonpermit-tag number, email address, date of harvest, number of days hunted, additional units hunted (including days), type of weapon, deer species harvested, number of points on both the left and right antler, and loss of any wounded deer.

A physical inspection is not required of a harvested animal taken during the over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer season.

Season dates

Season dates for over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer seasons vary by unit, and may be: Aug 19-Sept 8, 2022; Dec 9 – 31, 2022; and/or Jan. 1-31, 2023. Not all units will be open for all time frames; hunters should view the status of harvest limits online.

When the number of deer equaling the archery deer harvest limit for a particular unit and species has been reported, that unit will be closed to further archery deer hunting at sundown the Wednesday immediately following and remain closed until August of the next calendar year. For example, if the harvest limit is reached in Unit 27 on Saturday, Sept. 3, Unit 27 would close to over-the-counter, nonpermit-tag archery deer hunting at sundown Wednesday immediately following (Sept. 7) and remain closed until the August 2023 season.