Arizona, without question, has the potential for 82" antelope bucks, but the quantity is not the same as most states in the West. In fact, it has the lowest population of all western states with the exception of Nebraska. Drought and coyote predation are the main factors that have been the demise of this species in Arizona. Predation is always at the forefront of population fluctuation, but Arizona, being a southern state, drought is the driving factor as opposed to northern states where severe winters are the driving factor. Arizona is currently coming off back-to-back years of good moisture, and populations are rebounding some, but it’s still far from historic numbers. You will notice a few units’ tag numbers bumping up a bit, but they are in small increments.
Most units in Arizona have trophy potential, but it is not like you are passing a pile of good bucks looking for a great buck. The scenario is more like passing a few decent bucks in hopes of finding a great buck. There are a few units that will give hunters the hunt of a lifetime for trophy quality and quantity. Currently, 6A, 5B, 5A, and 48 have great public access along with a decent amount of mature bucks. Units 7, 9, and 10 that used to be the go-to units for public land and great bucks are still good for public land access but have fallen off for the amount of quality bucks they were known for. Public land can typically be a problem in most of the units but not to the extent of not being able to have a good hunt. It just might limit your options of what bucks you can hunt. Pay attention to our unit descriptions to separate the highly private units in which you would be best served to hire an outfitter versus the ones with good public access.
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The one issue most applicants have with Arizona antelope hunting is that the hunt experience most often does not match the number of points required to draw. Realistically, with as competitive as tags are to come by and how dedicated most hunters are who get the tags, the few bucks that hit trophy status in the dozen units that can produce them are hunted hard. Arizona is still capable of producing bucks in excess of 85", but the hunting experience is far from what most hunters think of when they set out on an antelope hunt. Plan for a long, drawn-out hunt that will be filled with hours upon hours behind the glass and hours upon hours in the seat of a pickup or side-by-side with few sightings. Applying for antelope in Arizona only makes sense if you are already investing in applications for other species and have committed to buying the hunt license. For only $15, you can apply for a small chance of drawing a random tag and possibly harvest a buck of a lifetime.
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Pay close attention to our tables if you have 27-28+ points. All units are not created equal, and there is getting to be more separation between top units. Outfitted antelope hunts are not as popular as other species, but it is becoming more important if you want a B&C buck.
For specific dates, seasons and units check the AZ Pronghorn regulations.
For access to all of our research and data we've collected over the last 20+ years, then join today and access the best research tools for hunting Antelope in Arizona including Draw Odds, Consultations and much more. Go on more hunts with better information!
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The Arizona big game application deadline for antelope is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) on February 4, 2025.
Our online/print magazine has everything in one location: Application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning and much more. If you would like access to all of our research join today!
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| Up-Front Fees | |
| 365-Day Hunting & Fishing License | $160 |
| Youth Combo Hunting & Fishing License (ages 10-17) | $5 |
| Application Fee | $15 |
| Bonus Point Only Application | $15 |
| PointGuard Option (per species) | $10 |
| PointGuard+ Option (per year) | $25 |
| Post Draw License Fees (if successful) | |
| Antelope Permit | $550 |
Arizona Antelope Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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