Arizona has long produced some of the biggest bull elk in the West, thanks to mild winters and refuge-style areas like tribal lands where hunting pressure stays low. But the state’s elk population and overall quality have been sliding for 15 to 20 years. A big part of the problem is slow management response to fast-changing hunting technology. Like many states, Arizona hasn’t adjusted tag numbers or regulations quickly enough to account for higher hunter success and increased efficiency in the field, which puts more strain on the herds. Despite having the second-lowest elk population in the West at roughly 34,000 animals, the state still issues more than 24,000 elk tags a year across all categories. That mismatch isn’t doing the population any favors.
Wolves on the eastern side of the state have also been quietly stacking pressure. The Mexican gray wolf recovery plan set a five-year objective of 145 wolves by 2022, yet the population hit 242 that year. Growth looks to continue with numbers around 10% annually. Even with the population reaching 286, nearly a 10% increase adds nearly 30 wolves. Not surprisingly, reports of historically low calf survival in Units 1 and 27 line up almost perfectly with this growth curve. What started as slow-burn issue is accelerating and may begin affecting more units, which would place even harder strain on already stressed elk herds.
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Arizona manages elk using two strategies: Alternative Management Units and Standard Management Units. Units 1, 9, 10, and 23 fall under the Alternative category and are managed for bull-to-cow ratios below 50:100. Everything else is Standard, with ratios in the 25-35:100 range. The higher ratios in the Alternative units create older age-class bulls and make these units some of the most coveted in the state. The downside is obvious: tags in these units are extremely hard to draw. Standard units don’t offer the same trophy potential, but they still produce good bulls. They’re simply less frequent.
Among the Alternative units, Unit 1 continues to lag behind the big three: 9, 10, and 23. Those units remain strong producers and can kick out exceptional bulls, especially in wet years. Outside the late rifle seasons, all three offer excellent choices for anyone lucky enough to pull a tag. Of the late rifle options, Unit 23 stands apart thanks to its glassing-friendly terrain and overall huntability. It’s worth noting that high bull-to-cow ratios often lead to more busted antlers later in the year. This fluctuation is normal. For example, a slower rut in 2025 meant less breakage, but broken bulls remain a recurring theme.
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For specific seasons and dates check the regulations brochure.
Speaking of the different seasons in Arizona, they offer two separate archery and rifle seasons in most units, typically held in September and November/December. While the late-season hunts can be challenging due to factors like weather and the difficulty of locating isolated bulls, they provide significantly better Arizona lists most elk hunts into early and late archery and rifle seasons, generally September and November/December. Late hunts come with tougher conditions, colder weather, and bulls that tend to be tucked away, but the draw odds are far better and open doors to units most hunters could never access otherwise. Hunters chasing older bulls will have to work harder, though. Late rifle tags in particular can be surprisingly numerous, and pressure sometimes feels closer to over-the-counter chaos in states like Colorado or Idaho than the classic Arizona trophy hunt experience. Also keep an eye on weapon type for early hunts in Units 1, 9, and 27. These units alternate between early rifle and early muzzleloader each year, so check the hunt tables to see which weapon applies for 2026.
Arizona offers a few unique elk opportunities, though it doesn’t provide any over-the-counter antelope tags. A handful of elk units do have OTC options, but these areas generally have low elk densities and low success rates. Most of these hunts are designated as “any elk,” and even turning up a cow can be tough. Unless you have deep local knowledge or an outfitter who knows the terrain, these hunts usually aren’t a great choice.
Most of the state’s true opportunity elk hunts fall in the late archery and late rifle seasons. We don’t cover the late archery seasons in the magazine, but you can apply the same unit information used for the late rifle hunts, just with far fewer tags. Arizona also offers “Limited Opportunity Hunts,” which tend to have higher draw odds but come with real challenges. Units 2A and 2B, for example, give out a fair number of tags but require either intimate familiarity with the landscape or access to private agricultural fields. Units like 17A, 17B, 18B, 19B, 20A, and 20C have longer seasons and higher elk numbers, yet access is often complicated by private land. Success in these units depends heavily on understanding elk movement and terrain, though a number of outfitters do operate in these areas and can help level the field.
For nonresidents, most late-season elk hunts in the bonus draw require around seven to eight points, making them relatively manageable and offering the chance to learn the public-land pockets that consistently hold elk.
Archery hunters looking for opportunity hunts can consider the late archery seasons in November, which precede the late rifle hunts. These hunts are tough because they fall after the rut, and bulls tend to hole up in thick cover. Tag numbers are limited, so if you find elk, you can enjoy a quieter, more solitary hunt with minimal interference. Units 22 and 23 allocate more late archery tags than most and generally take fewer points to draw—roughly three to four for Unit 22 and six to seven for Unit 23. When applying for these hunts, pay attention to terrain. Units with broken country and glassing angles tend to offer better opportunities. Flat, brushy units make it much harder to locate bulls, even when they’re around.
Hunters focused on filling the freezer can look at antlerless hunts. Just remember that elk points in Arizona apply to all hunts, so applying for a cow tag will burn your accumulated points. The state offers a wide range of antlerless hunts across weapon types, from early September through late December. Archery seasons typically fall in September, with rifle and muzzleloader options in October and December. These cow tags generally require four to five points to draw a bonus permit and often have higher success rates than early archery or late rifle bull hunts. If you’re willing to use your points, they’re a fun, effective way to put elk meat in the freezer.
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The Arizona Big Game Application Deadline for Elk is 11:59 P.M. (Arizona Time) Feb 3, 2026.
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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| 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 |
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| Elk Permit | $650 |
| Elk Permit (youth cow-only hunts) | $50 |
Arizona Elk Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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