Arizona Deer Season 2026-27
Arizona deer season dates start with Aug 21, 2026-Jan 31, 2027. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Arizona's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Oct 23-Nov 1, 2026.
Archery Nonpermit-tag (OTC) Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer opens Aug 21, 2026 and closes Jan 31, 2027.
Archery Hunt Permit-tag Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer opens Aug 21, 2026 and closes Dec 31, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Arizona Game & Fish Dept..
Deer
28 listed rowsMule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Archery Nonpermit-tag (OTC)
OTC archery deer nonpermit-tag. Aug 21-Sep 10 in most units; Dec 11-Jan 31 in additional/same units. Jan 1-31 only for some southern units (25M, 26M, 45A-45C, 46A/46B). Mandatory harvest reporting required within 48 hours. Unit closes at sundown Wednesday after harvest limit is reached. Available starting Nov 2, 2026 for residents.
Zone: Multiple units statewide including 2A/2B/2C, 3B, 4A/4B, 5A/5B, 6A, 6B, 7/9, 8, 10, 15A-15D, 16A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B, 20C, 21, 22, 23, 24A, 24B, 25M, 26M, 27, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32,…
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Archery Hunt Permit-tag
Archery permit-tag hunts: Aug 21-Sep 10 most units; Oct 30-Nov 12 Unit 11M antlerless; Dec 11-31 Unit 11M. Hunt numbers 1199-1209. Some run Aug 21-Sep 10 AND Dec 11-31.
Zone: Units 1, 3A/3C, 11M, 12A/12B, 13A, 13B, 17A, 27
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Archery (Hunt Permit-Tag Required)
Archery permit-tag hunts Aug 21 - Sep 10, 2026 for most units. Unit 11M has additional Oct 30 - Nov 12 and Dec 11-31 seasons. Unit 17A: Aug 21-Sep 10 and Dec 11-31.
Zone: Units 1, 3A/3C, 11M, 12A/12B, 13A, 13B, 17A, 27
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
CHAMP General
CHAMP (Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permit) hunts. Hunt 1179: Sep 18-24 Unit 12A West; Hunt 1180: Oct 23-29 Units 7/9; Hunt 1181: Nov 13-19 Unit 34A
Zone: Units 7/9, 12A West, 34A
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
CHAMP (General)
Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permit required. Three hunt numbers: Sep 18-24 (12A West), Oct 23-29 (7/9), Nov 13-19 (34A).
Zone: Units 12A West, 7/9, 34A
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Youth-Only General (Firearm)
Youth-Only seasons vary Oct 2-18; some units have Nov 20-29 youth season. Must be under 18.
Zone: Multiple units including 5A/5B, 10, 12A West, 17B/19A/19B/20A, 20B, 20C, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 36C, 37B, 42
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Youth-Only General
Youth-only hunts Oct 2-11, Oct 9-12, Oct 9-15, Oct 9-18 depending on unit. Nov 20-Nov 29 for some units. Hunt numbers 1152-1178.
Zone: Units 5A/5B, 10, 12A West, 17B/19A/19B/20A, 18B, 20B, 20C, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 36C, 37B, 42
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Youth Muzzleloader
Hunt 1197: Oct 2-11 Units 15A-15D; Hunt 1198: Nov 20-29 Unit 16A
Zone: Units 15A/15B/15C/15D, 16A
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Youth-Only Muzzleloader
Youth-only muzzleloader seasons: Oct 2-11 (15A-15D) and Nov 20-29 (16A).
Zone: Units 15A/15B/15C/15D, 16A
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader seasons vary by unit: Oct 9-15 (36A), Oct 16-22 (30B), Oct 23-Nov 1 (3B, 6B, 15A-15D), Oct 23-29 (20B), Nov 6-12 (12A East, 12B West, 15A-15D), Nov 13-19 (33, 34A), Oct 30-Nov 5 (35A/35B), Dec 11-31 (3B, 35A/35B, 39/40A-42). Hunt numbers 1182-1196.
Zone: Units 3B, 6B, 12A East, 12B West, 15A/15B/15C/15D, 20B, 30B, 33, 34A, 35A/35B, 36A, 39/40A/40B/41/42
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader season dates vary by unit, earliest Oct 16, latest Nov 19. Some late season Dec 11-31.
Zone: Units 3B, 6B, 12A East, 12B West, 15A/15B/15C/15D, 20B, 30B, 33, 34A, 35A/35B, 36A
Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer
General (Firearm)
Multiple hunt numbers with varying open dates Oct 23-Nov 19, 2026. Earliest open date Oct 23, latest close date Nov 19 for first season group. Some units have additional late seasons Dec 11-Dec 31, 2026.
Zone: Various units (1, 2A/2B/2C, 3A/3C, 4A/4B, 10, 12A/12B, 13A, 13B, 16A, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, 20A, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 32, 36A, 36B, 36C, 37A, 37B, 68 series)
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| DeerArcheryDates vary based on open Hunt Areas, ranging from August 22, 2025 to January 31, 2026. | Closed | |
| DeerMuzzleloader YouthYouth Muzzleloader: October 3–12, 2025 or November 21–30, 2025. | Closed | |
| DeerYouthYouth dates vary starting October 3 through November 30, 2025. | Closed | |
| DeerMuzzleloader GeneralGeneral Muzzleloader dates vary starting October 10 through December 31, 2025. | Closed | |
| DeerFirearm GeneralFirearms (General) dates vary from October 25 – December 31, 2025. | Closed | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerRegular Firearm · Various units statewide (1, 2A/2B/2C, 3A/3C, 4A/4B, 5A/5B, 6A, 10, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 16A, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, 20A, 21, 27, 29, 30A, 30B, 36A, 36B, 36C)Hunt numbers 1001-1073; multiple units with varying dates Oct 23-Nov 1. Some hunts run Oct 30-Nov 5, Nov 6-Nov 15, Nov 13-Nov 22, Nov 20-Nov 29, Dec 11-Dec 31. Dates vary by hunt number and unit. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral - Late Season · Units 5A/5B, 6A, 6B, 7/9, 8, 20B, 20C, 21, 22, 23, 24A, 24B, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34B, 36A, 36B, 36C, 37A, 37BHunt numbers vary; Oct 30-Nov 5, Oct 30-Nov 8, Nov 6-Nov 12, Nov 6-Nov 15, Nov 13-Nov 19, Nov 13-Nov 22, Nov 20-Nov 29 depending on unit | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral (Firearm) - Second Season · Units 5A/5B, 6A, 6B, 7/9, 8, 20C, 21, 22, 23, 24A, 24B, 27, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34B, 36A, 36B, 36C, 37A, 37BSecond firearm season group Oct 30 - Nov 8. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral (Firearm) - Third Season · Units 39, 40A, 40B, 41, 42, 43A/43B, 44A/44B, 45A/45B/45C, 46A/46B, 6B, 8Third firearm season group various units. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral (Firearm) - Nov 13 Group · Units 13A, 24A, 24B, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 36C, 37A, 37BNov 13 season group, various units, close dates vary Nov 19-22. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerYouth-Only General (Firearm) - Nov · Units 18B, 33, 36A, 36B, 36C, 42Youth-only late November season. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral (Firearm) - Nov 20 Group · Units 12A East/West, 12B/12B West, 13B, 18B, 20BNov 20 season group. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral (Firearm) - Nov 27 Group · Units 24A, 24B, 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 36CNov 27 season group, closes Dec 6. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral (Firearm) - Late Season · Various units including 3A/3C, 6A, 7/9, 19B, 22, 24A, 24B, 27, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 33, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 36CLate season general deer hunts in multiple units. | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerGeneral - December Season · Units 3A/3C, 6A, 6B/8, 7/9, 19B, 22, 24A, 24B, 27, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 36C, 37BLate December general deer hunts in select units. Hunt numbers 1004, 1010, 1030, 1037, 1059, 1075, 1077, 1081, 1084, 1087, 1091, 1095, 1098, 1103, 1107, 1111, 1115, 1119, 1123, 1127, 1131, 1135, 1139, 1143, 1147, 1151 | Upcoming | |
| Mule Deer / Whitetail DeerMuzzleloader - Late · Units 3B, 35A/35B, 39/40A/40B/41/42Late muzzleloader season. | Upcoming |
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Nearby deer seasons
Arizona Deer Season FAQ
When does deer season open in Arizona?
August 22, 2025 is the earliest listed deer opener in Arizona — archery deer runs Aug 22, 2025-Jan 31, 2026. Confirm zone and permit details with Arizona Game & Fish Dept..
What are the 2026-27 deer season dates in Arizona?
Arizona lists 28 deer season windows: Archery Deer (Aug 22, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); Muzzleloader Youth Deer (Oct 3-Nov 30, 2025); Youth Deer (Oct 3-Nov 30, 2025); Muzzleloader General Deer (Oct 10-Dec 31, 2025); Firearm General Deer (Oct 25-Dec 31, 2025); Archery Nonpermit-tag (OTC) Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer (Aug 21, 2026-Jan 31, 2027); Archery Hunt Permit-tag Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer (Aug 21-Dec 31, 2026); Archery (Hunt Permit-Tag Required) Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer (Aug 21-Dec 31, 2026); and more. Always verify against Arizona Game & Fish Dept. before hunting.
Are there different deer seasons in Arizona?
Yes — Arizona lists separate deer seasons for Archery Deer, Muzzleloader Youth Deer, Youth Deer, Muzzleloader General Deer, Firearm General Deer, Archery Nonpermit-tag (OTC) Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and Arizona Game & Fish Dept..
Do I need a license to hunt deer in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and deer hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with Arizona Game & Fish Dept..