Arizona Hunting License: Cost, Requirements & How to Buy
A Arizona hunting license costs $37 for a resident adult and $160 for a non-resident adult (fees verified 2026-09-12).
Arizona is one of the only states where a non-resident cannot buy a hunting-only license at all: everyone from out of state buys the combination hunt-and-fish license instead. Residents have the option of a cheaper hunting-only license or the same combo if they plan to fish too.
- Combination hunt + fish license, resident $57
- Combination hunt + fish license, non-resident $160
Arizona sells a stand-alone general hunting license only to residents; non-residents must buy the $160 combination hunt-and-fish license instead. Hunter education is not required to buy a license, but hunters age 10-13 must hold a hunter education card to take big game; 14 and up do not need it. Draw application fees ($13 resident/$15 non-resident) and big game tags are separate.
Fee last verified 2026-09-12.
Heading out for Arizona hunting? Game wardens require carrying physical or digital license proof and valid tags. Equip yourself with a waterproof license and tag pouch, rechargeable wide-beam LED headlamp, and corrosion-resistant multi-tool pliers before your trip.
What an Arizona hunting license costs
Residents pay $37 for the general hunting license, or $57 for the combo hunt-and-fish version. Non-residents must buy the combination license at $160, since Arizona doesn't sell a hunting-only license to out-of-state hunters. Both are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase rather than a fixed calendar year. Big game tags for deer, elk, javelina and other draw species are separate and mostly issued through Arizona's draw system.
Hunter education and who needs a license
Unlike most states, Arizona does not require hunter education to buy a license at all. It is only mandatory for hunters ages 10-13 who want to hunt big game, who must carry a hunter education completion card in addition to their license and tags; anyone 14 or older can hunt big game without it. Anyone age 10 or up needs a license to hunt in Arizona.
License year and the draw
The license runs 365 days from purchase, not a calendar year, so timing a purchase around when you'll actually hunt matters less than in states with a fixed license year. Draw applications for deer, elk, pronghorn, javelina, bighorn sheep and turkey have their own separate deadlines each year and require a valid license or license purchased alongside the application; missing a draw window means waiting for the next application period regardless of license status.
How to buy your Arizona hunting license
AZGFD's online portal at license.azgfd.com handles license sales, draw applications and tag purchases in one account. Licenses are also sold at AZGFD offices and authorized retailers around the state. Short-term combo licenses ($15/day resident, $20/day non-resident) exist for a quick trip that doesn't justify the annual.
Hunting in Arizona: what to expect
Arizona's Coues whitetail deer, found in the oak-grass country of the southeastern mountains (the Chiricahuas, Huachucas and Santa Ritas), draw hunters from across the country and are issued through a competitive draw. Elk hunting concentrates in the Mogollon Rim country and the White Mountains, also almost entirely draw-only for the better units. Desert bighorn sheep tags are among the hardest draws in North America. Javelina, dove and quail hunting are more accessible over-the-counter options that don't require years of preference points.
Public land and the draw system
Arizona is overwhelmingly public land by Western standards, with national forest, BLM and state trust land covering most of the huntable terrain. The catch is that the best units for deer, elk and sheep are drawn, not sold over the counter, and building preference points is a multi-year strategy for serious non-resident hunters chasing a specific unit. Javelina, quail, dove and some limited deer hunts remain accessible without years of point-building, and are the realistic entry point for a first Arizona hunt.
How to renew a Arizona hunting license
There is no separate renewal process in Arizona. A hunting license is not extended in place; when it expires you buy a new one for the next license year through the same system you used the first time, and your customer profile, hunter or angler ID and any saved payment details carry over so the second purchase takes a couple of minutes. Valid 365 days from the date of purchase, not a calendar year.
The fastest route is the official Arizona online licensing portal, which also lets you print or download the new license and add any stamps, tags or endorsements in one transaction. In-person license agents (sporting goods stores, bait shops and, in many states, county clerks) sell the same license at the same price, so use whichever is closer. Buying before the old license lapses is not required, but it avoids an accidental gap if a season opens before you get round to it.
Planning more than one? See the Arizona fishing license page too, see how much a hunting license costs in every state, compare non-resident hunting fees across states, browse every state, or use the state license finder.