The ins and outs about Arizona's draw system for big game hunts to help you prepare to apply. If you're considering applying in Arizona, this article is for you
Arizona is renowned for its big game hunting, featuring a range of species including mule deer, Coues deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep and more. The state’s diverse habitats — from the high elevations of the Kaibab Plateau to the expansive deserts of the Sonoran — offer unique challenges and opportunities for hunters. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) manages hunting through a lottery system for most species to ensure sustainable populations, trophy quality and fair access. Hunters must prepare for varying climates and terrains, from cold mountain hunts to hot desert conditions, making each hunt a distinctive adventure.
Before applying, it's essential to understand Arizona's draw and point system thoroughly. By carefully planning and strategically managing your applications, you can enhance your chances of securing a tag and enjoy more frequent hunting opportunities in the Grand Canyon State.
Be sure to check out our Application Strategy articles to learn in-depth research and application tips when it comes time to apply in Arizona.
Arizona’s draw system works on a modified bonus point system. In the draw, a portion of the permits are allocated to the applicants with the most bonus points who apply for any given hunt, and the rest are randomly allocated with bonus points, giving you better odds of drawing.
Bonus points are species-specific. Applicants obtain a bonus point each time they apply and are unsuccessful in the draw. Applicants can apply for “point only” as their first choice if they do not want to apply for hunts, but we only advise doing that if an applicant cannot afford the time or the cost of the permit if they were to draw it. Remember that Arizona offers a portion of the permits in a random draw, and you will automatically get a bonus point if you are unsuccessful in the draw. It makes good sense to apply for hunts and not just a bonus point. Bonus points will be purged if you successfully draw a permit with any of your choices. Bonus points will also be purged if an applicant has failed to apply in the draw for five consecutive years.
There are two other ways an applicant can gain an additional bonus point.
In Arizona, they refer to stages of the draw as “passes.” Bonus point permits (permits guaranteed to applicants who apply with the most points) are awarded in the first pass of the draw, which is often referred to as the bonus pass or first pass. The second pass is when random permits are awarded. Within the second pass (aka random draw), the number of bonus points you apply with are still taken into consideration. This means that your odds of drawing get better in the random draw with every bonus point you acquire. An applicant with no points still has a chance in the random draw, but your odds increase with each bonus point you gain.
During the first pass, 20% of the total tags for a given hunt are distributed to the applicants with the highest number of bonus points for each hunt for deer, elk and antelope. For bighorn sheep and bison, 20% of the total number of permits available statewide are distributed during this pass.
During the second pass, the remaining 80% of the permits are drawn randomly, but are weighted by your bonus points. In this random pass, the more points you have, the better your odds; however, tags can still be drawn by any applicant — even those with zero points.
Within the 20% (bonus pass), up to 5% of the tags can be allocated to nonresidents. Within the 80% (random pass), up to 5% of those can be allocated to nonresidents. Thus, up to 10% of the total permits can be allocated to nonresidents; however, this number is not guaranteed, and nonresidents will often draw less than the 10% cap.
During the draw, AZGFD will consider your first two choices before moving on to the next applicant. So, if your application is drawn, the state will look at your first choice hunt. If tags are available, you will be awarded a tag; if not, they will then move to your second choice to look for available tags. Third, fourth and fifth choices will not be considered until all first and second choice applications have been processed. Be aware that if you draw any of your choices, your points will be purged. For that reason, we advise applicants to only include first and second choices unless they are willing to burn points on the types of hunts that make it to the leftover list.
Arizona will allow up to four individuals to apply on a group application. The group application is treated as one application where, if selected, all members of the group will receive a permit. A group application will have their bonus points averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number (.5 and up would round up to the nearest whole number, .4 and down would round down). If there are not enough permits to meet the number of applicants on a group application, the application has no chance of being successful. Arizona will not over-allocate the permit quota to accommodate a group application.
Learn more information about hunting applications, draw systems, hunt regulations, tag allocations, and more in our State Profile sections:
Loyalty bonus point: A loyalty bonus point is an additional bonus point that is awarded after having applied for any given species for five consecutive years. This is a species-specific point and will not be taken away when you draw a tag. It will be purged if you miss a year of applying, though, and will restart the process.
Hunter’s education bonus point: Arizona offers a permanent bonus point for each species if you complete their hunter’s education course. This course can be completed in person or online. Nonresidents will need to pay the $300 course fee and complete the instructional and test portion of the class. The resident fee is $150. You must be 18 years or older to take the class. Approximately 15 to 30 days after you have completed the course, AZGFD will update your account with the extra bonus point. This point is permanent and will never be purged. Learn more about the Arizona hunter education course here.
