Application Strategy 2023: Arizona elk and antelope

Arizona's 2023 elk and antelope application overview

Jump to: NEW FOR 2023 State Information Draw System Elk Breakdown Antelope Breakdown Points System

Note: The online application deadline for Arizona elk and antelope is Feb. 14, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Arizona Time. You can apply online here.

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Noteworthy for 2023

• The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) requires applicants to have a Customer ID to apply in the draw. New applicants can set up an account on their website. The Customer ID Retrieval Tool can be accessed at www.azgfd.gov/draw during the draw application process to look up the number.
• Applicants should keep their credit card payment information current. If your payment is declined at the time of the draw, your application will not be drawn.
• As of 2022 and continuing into 2023, a person cannot not use any images, video or data/information from a trail camera for the purposes of taking or locating wildlife or aiding in the taking of wildlife.
  • Learn more here about the trail camera ban   
• Hunting licenses will be sold online only. AZGFD will no longer offer traditional paper licenses sold through licensed dealers.
• Arizona offers an online hunter’s education course. Once completed, one lifetime bonus point for each species will be added to your account. This is a great way to increase the number of bonus points you have and a must if you plan to keep up with other applicants. You must be 18+ to complete the course and the cost is $300 for nonresidents and $150 for residents. It may take two weeks to a month to have the extra point show up in your account. Do not delay in taking the course!
  • Learn more about the online hunter education course here.
• Unit 5A will have a new rifle elk hunt in 2023. Dates will be Sept. 15 to 21, 2023.
• Unit 5B will have a new rifle elk hunt in 2023. Dates will be Sept. 29 to Oct. 5th, 2023.
• Unit 1/2B/2C alternates between early rifle and muzzleloader each year. In 2023, it will offer a rifle hunt and not a muzzleloader hunt.
• Unit 9 alternates between a rifle and muzzleloader hunt each year. In 2023, it will offer a muzzleloader hunt and not a rifle hunt.
• Unit 27 alternates between a rifle and muzzleloader hunt each year. In 2023, it will offer a muzzleloader hunt and not a rifle hunt.

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Insider Features

Hunt Planner

To aid in your research and planning efforts, we created a brand new tool for Insiders called Hunt Planner. This tool will help you be more efficient at planning for hunts and also keeps all your research data organized. No more notepads getting lost or headaches when trying to remember what units caught your eye during your research! Everything you need is always in one place at GOHUNT.

What can you do in Hunt Planner?

• Save unit seasons in Filtering 2.0 
  • Never lose track of units you want to further research
• Rank seasons
  • Can help decide what unit to apply for or what order to place your units when applying on a state's website
• Compare seasons (up to three at a time)
• Save the filter settings you used in Filtering 2.0 to find a great hunt
• Add notes to your research folder under season level or hunt folder level
  
• And much more!

Learn more about Hunt Planner here

Point Tracker

Point Tracker allows you to enter the number of points you have for each state and species and, as you research through Filtering 2.0 and Draw Odds, your point total will automatically be highlighted. Learn more about using Point Tracker here.

Access Point Tracker here

Draw Odds 

GOHUNT displays the number of applicants at each point level below the cut-off draw line for each hunt on the detailed draw odds page. This gives applicants a much greater understanding of point creep for each hunt and allows them to apply with a much better understanding of their chances. Check out a great article on point creep here and how to find the detailed draw odds page for each hunt.

Use our standalone Draw Odds tool here

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How to apply

To apply, visit www.azgfd.com/hunting/draw and login to your AZGFD portal account. If you have not created a portal you will need to take the necessary steps to do so. Once inside your portal, click on “Apply For A Draw.”

Make sure to review your bonus point totals. Check your points to ensure that you have the proper number of points. If the number doesn’t seem accurate, call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Do not wait to call if there is an issue. Take care of it well in advance of the application deadline.

Applicants must possess a valid Arizona hunting license to apply for a hunting tag. That license must be valid on the last day of the application period (Feb. 14, 2023) to be eligible in the draw. Check your AZGFD portal account to make sure yours is up to date. 

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State Information

Below you can find important information and an overview of Arizona’s rules/regulations, the draw system, bonus points, tag and license fees. An interactive boundary line map is available on our State Profile. Once at the State Profile, you can find even more information on applying in Arizona. You can also view the Arizona Elk Profile and Arizona Antelope Profile to access historical and statistical data to help you locate trophy units.

Arizona State Profile Elk Profile Antelope Profile GOHUNT Maps Draw Odds Filtering 2.0 Point Tracker Hunt Planner

Important dates and information

• The deadline to apply online is Feb. 14, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. MST.
• Successful applicants will have permits mailed out by April 14, 2023.
• Payment must be made by VISA or Mastercard for online applications.
• Applicants must have a valid Arizona hunting license to apply for a permit.
• Your hunting license must be valid on the application deadline, otherwise the application will be void.
• There is a $15 nonrefundable application fee per species for nonresidents.
• Permits are awarded through a hybrid draw system, bonus point draw and a subsequent random draw (see draw system details below for more information).
• If you need help looking up your Arizona bonus points, check out this article.

Arizona elk and antelope cost
Item	Nonresident	Nonresident youth	Resident	Resident youth
Hunting license	$160	$5	$37	$5
Application fee	$15	$15	$13	$13
Elk permit	$650	$650	$135	$135
Elk (youth only permit)	N/A	$50	N/A	$50
Antelope permit	$550	$550	$90	$90
PointGuard fee	$10	$10	$10	$10
PointGuard Plus  (all species)	$25	$25	$25	$25

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THE ARIZONA DRAW SYSTEM

Arizona has a modified bonus point system where a portion of the permits are allocated to applicants with the most bonus points who apply for any given hunt and the rest are randomly allocated.

In Arizona, they refer to stages of the draw as “passes.” Bonus point permits 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. 

Permit splits and allocation

Arizona allocates 20% of the elk and antelope permits in the bonus point pass and 80% in the random pass. Within the 20% (bonus pass), up to 5% 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, it is not guaranteed.

Bonus points

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 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. If an applicant has applied for five consecutive years and has completed the hunter’s education course, they could go into a draw with two points already even if they drew a permit the previous year. More information below. 

• 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 and would restart the process. Don’t miss a year of applying! 
• Arizona hunter’s education course bonus point. Arizona offers a permanent bonus point for each species if you complete their hunter’s education course. In the past, you needed to attend and take this course in person in order to obtain the point. That is no longer the case. You can take their hunter’s education course online. You’ll need to pay the $300 course fee and complete the instructional and test portion of the class. You must be 18 years or older to take the class. Approximately two weeks to 30 days after you have completed the course, they will update your account with the extra bonus point. This point is permanent and will never be purged.

How bonus points work in the draw

20% of the permits for any given hunt will be awarded to the applicants who apply with the most bonus points during the first pass of the draw. As previously stated, up to 5% of those bonus pass permits can be awarded to nonresidents. 

In the random pass of the draw, the system grants an applicant one random number for each bonus point that has been accumulated going into the drawing for that species. Each bonus point random number is in addition to the current application random number entry itself. For example, someone with six bonus points would have seven random numbers generated for their application. The lowest generated number becomes the new application number. When they begin to allocate permits, they start with the applicant who has the lowest application number and allocate them a permit and move up in ascending order until all permits are allocated. Remember that nonresidents can draw up to 5% of the permits in the random pass; however, those are not guaranteed to nonresidents. 

Basically, you need to know this: bonus points increase your odds of drawing a permit, but applicants who apply for the first time in this draw with no points still have a chance to draw a permit. 

PointGuard

Arizona offers a safeguard for applicants who draw a permit and may want to return it in order to have their points restored. This program is called PointGuard. The fee is $10 per species and can be purchased at the same time you apply. If you purchased PointGuard for a permit you drew and decided to return it, it must be done at least one day prior to opening day. You’ll also need to complete the surrender application form. If you use PointGuard, you will have your bonus points restored plus one for that year. You will forfeit the permit and application fees. Also, be aware that PointGuard can only be used one time per species, meaning you cannot draw a permit and return it year after year (while retaining your points) until you are ready to hunt.

PointGuard Plus

For applicants who apply for multiple species in Arizona and plan to continue to apply, Arizona offers PointGuard Plus. For $25, an applicant will have the opportunity to surrender a tag and have their bonus points reinstated for all eligible big game species for three consecutive draw cycles from the date of purchase. Applicants must purchase this protection at the time they apply.

Hunt choices

Applicants can apply for up to five hunt choices on their application. Only your first and second choice are considered before moving to the next application. What that means is an applicant's third, fourth and fifth choice will only be considered if there are leftover permits. 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.

Group applications

Arizona will allow up to four individuals to apply on a group application for elk and antelope. The group application is treated as one application where, if selected, all members of the group would 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. 

Youth and mentoring opportunities

Youth can apply for and hunt big game in Arizona at 10 years old. They must have completed a hunter’s education course and purchased an Arizona hunting license. That license is only $5 for youth (10 to 17). We highly recommend that you begin to apply and build points for your youth beginning at age 10. Arizona does offer some “youth only” elk permits, but those are all antlerless hunts. For nonresidents, we recommend applying for antlered permits and building points for your kids. There are better opportunities to hunt cow elk in other states. 

Arizona has a unique program that will allow a parent, grandparent or legal guardian to transfer a permit they have drawn to their youth (10 to 17). The youth must have a valid hunting license and completed hunter’s education if they are younger than 14.

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Arizona's 2023 elk breakdown

Arizona is known for producing trophy quality bulls and offering the lucky permit holders a phenomenal experience in the elk woods. The most difficult part of the Arizona elk equation is obtaining a permit. Generally speaking, the odds of drawing the early season archery, rifle and/or muzzleloader are tough. Arizona does offer late season rifle and archery hunts that are easier to draw, but those hunts are more difficult and the quality of the bulls killed on those hunts is not on par with the early hunts. 

The cost to apply in Arizona is not exactly cheap. You must buy the annual hunting license at a cost of $160 and then the application fee is $15 per species. It’s going to cost you a minimum of $175 if you only want to apply for elk. My advice would be to apply for any and all species in Arizona that you are interested in. If you are already buying the hunting license to apply for elk, you might as well also apply for deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, javelina and even bison. Remember that a portion of the permits are randomly allocated so it’s possible that you could draw a great permit on any given year. I believe that Arizona is a worthwhile state to apply and build points in. 

Arizona’s elk hunting structure offers an early archery and rifle hunt as well as a late archery and late rifle hunt in most units. They also offer some muzzleloader hunts. The early hunts typically have higher harvest success and the trophy potential is better earlier on. The late hunts can be tough, especially the late archery hunts. Those hunts are spot and stalk — often in rough, remote terrain — and the biggest bulls can be hard to locate consistently that time of year. The late archery hunts often have low harvest success rates and some of the bigger bulls often have broken antlers by the time the late hunts roll around. The late rifle hunts are good options for applicants without a lot of points. Many of the late rifle hunts are available with seven or more bonus points.

There is good news going into 2023. Arizona is having a very good winter in terms of the amount of moisture it’s receiving and the antler growth is highly dependent on the availability of quality feed. We are hearing that antler growth in Arizona should be one of the best years in the past decade. Not every unit is going to consistently produce 350”+ caliber bulls. There are 10 or so units where the opportunity for that type of bull exists. Almost every unit can offer 310” to 320” bulls for hunters who are willing to scout and hunt hard. As stated, antler growth is based on drought/moisture conditions and, although Arizoan is still dry, we do anticipate that 2023 is going to be a banner year for big bulls in the Grand Canyon State.

2021 drought status

2022 drought status

2023 drought status

2023 top hit list early archery hunts to consider for 350"+ or better bulls
Unit	Dates	Trophy potential	Harvest success	Nonresident points to draw 2022	Resident points to draw 2022
23 North early archery	Sept. 15 to 28	380”+	73%	50% with 26 points	100% with 22 points
23 South early archery	Sept. 15 to 28	380”+	50%	N/A	100% with 22 points
23 North early rifle	Sept. 29 to Oct. 5	380”+	100%	20% with 27 points	100% with 24 points
23 South early rifle	Sept. 29 to Oct. 5	380”+	60%	N/A	100% with 26 points
23  late rifle	Dec. 1 to 7	380”+	66%	33% with 21 points	100% with 13 points
9  early archery	Sept. 15 to 28	370”+	67%	71% with 24 points	100% with 15 points
9 muzzleloader	Sept. 29 to Oct. 5	380”+	88%	100% with 27 points	75% with 21 points
27 early archery	Sept. 15 to 28	370”+	36%	100% with 18 points	100% with 11 points
27 muzzleloader	Sept. 29 to Oct. 5	360”+	55%	50% with 23 points	100% with 19 points
27 late rifle	Dec. 1 to 7	360%	64%	28% with 14 points	100% with 10 points
10 early archery	Sept. 15 to 28	360”+	53%	50% with 23 points	100% with 14 points
10 early rifle	Sept. 29 to Oct. 5	360”+	74%	50% with 28 points	100% with 23 points
3A/3C early archery	Sept. 15 to 28	360”+	62%	33% with 22 points	100% with 15 points
3A/3C early rifle	Sept. 29 to Oct. 5	360”+	89%	57% with 26 points	100% with 24 points
1/2B/2C early archery	Sept. 15 to 28	360”+	63%	28% with 19 points	100% with 13 points
1/2B/2C early rifle	Sept. 29 to Oct. 5	360”+	93%	24% with 24 points	18% with 23 points

Use the detailed Draw Odds view to look at draw trends and see where you can expect to draw in the maximum points pool and random draw.

Access our standalone Draw Odds here

As you can see, the best hunts require a lot of points. Given the fact that a portion of Arizona’s permits are offered to applicants with the most bonus points, point creep is an issue just like it is in several states in the West. Generally speaking, many hunts are jumping approximately one point per year. This means that if applicants are looking at the odds at their current point level, they may not draw going into 2023. You should consider hunts that show 100% odds at one point less than you currently have. You should also look at the detailed draw odds pages for the hunts you are considering to further evaluate your odds of drawing this year. Below we will break down some of the best hunt options for applicants at a variety of point levels.

Hunt options to consider in the 1 to 6 bonus point range
Unit	Trophy potential	Bull:cow ratio	Harvest success	Nonresident points to draw 2022	Resident points to draw 2022
4A late archery	320”+	70:100	15%	38% with 4 points	43% with 5 points
4B late archery	320”+	105:100	33%	42% with 4 points	54% with 6 points
5A late archery	340”+	34:100	30%	88% with 5 points	88% with 5 points
6B late archery	320”+	30:100	7%	38% with 3 points	51 % with 5 points
7E late archery	330”+	28:100	5%	77% with 2 points	100% with 0 points
7W late archery	340”+	20:100	13%	100% with 5 points	56% with 4 points
8 late archery	350”+	32:100	26%	28% with 5 points	52% with 5 points
22N late archery	310”+	28:100	13%	100% with 4 points	76% with 3 points
22S late archery	310”+	28:100	4%	100% with 4 points	100% with 0 points
4A  late rifle	320”+	70:100	21%	23% with 6 points	23% with 6 points
7E  late rifle	330”+	28:100	14%	88% with 5 points	88% with 5 points
22N late rifle	310”+	28:100	23%	100% with 6 points	100% with 6 points

 

Good archery hunt options to consider in the 7 to 12 bonus point range
Unit	Trophy potential	Bull:cow ratio	Harvest success	Nonresident points to draw 2022	Resident points to draw 2022
9  late archery	380”+	34:100	40%	100% with 10 points	100% with 9 points
23  late archery	380”+	55:100	23%	100% with 7 points	100% with 6 points
8 late archery	350”+	32:100	26%	100% with 10 points	52% with 5 points
5BN late archery	340”+	51:100	52%	68% with 6 points	67% with 7 points
5BS late archery	340”+	51:100	29%	100% with 7 points	53% with 5 points
5A late archery	340”+	34:100	30%	88% with 5 points	88% with 5 points
6A  early archery	330”+	30:100	35%	54% with 10 points	81% with 9 points
7E early archery	330”+	28:100	34%	20% with 9 points	100% with 8 points
11M  early archery	320”+	N/A	30%	100% with 12 points	48% with 7 points
6B  early archery	320”+	30:100	29%	100% with 10 points	100% with 8 points
19A	310”+	10:100	29%	100% with 9 points	100% with 10 points
16A early archery	300”+	20:100	75%	100% with 12 points	100% with 12 points

 

Good firearm hunt options to consider in the 7 to 12 bonus point range
Unit	Trophy potential	Bull:cow ratio	Harvest success	Nonresident points to draw 2022	Resident points to draw 2022
9 late rifle	370”+	34:100	35%	36% with 9 points	100% with 7 points
10 late rifle	360”+	40:100	30%	55% with 11 points	100% with 8 points
3A/3C late rifle	360”+	39:100	36%	100% with 10 points	100% with 9 points
8 late rifle	350”+	32:100	33%	100% with 8 points	100% with 7 points
21  late rifle	340”+	46:100	44%	50% with 10 points	100% with 8 points
5A  late rifle	340”+	34:100	35%	64% with 7 points	100% with 7 points
5BN/5BS late rifle	340”+	51:100	41%	100% with 8 points	100% with 8 points
7W late rifle	340”+	20:100	28%	100% with 7 points	100% with 7 points
3B late muzzleloader	330”+	12:100	30%	87% with 6 points	100% with 6 points
6A muzzleloader	330”+	30:100	36%	100% with 10 points	100% with 8 points
6A late rifle	330”+	30:100	39%	100% with 8 points	100% with 8 points
2A/2B  early rifle	330”+	50:100		100% with 9 points	100% with 9 points
7E late rifle	330’+	28:100	14%	100% with 6 points	88% with 5 points
4B late rifle	320”+	105:100	44%	100% with 9 points	100% with 8 points
6B late rifle	320”+	30:100	32%	95% with 7 points	100% with 7 points
19A late rifle	310”+	10:100	50%	100% with 12 points	100% with 7 points
22S late rifle	310”+	28:100	71%	100% with 10 points	100% with 8 points
22N late rifle	310”+	28:100	30%	83% with 6 points	100% with 6 points
22N late rifle	310”+	28:100	23%	100% with 6 points	100% with 6 points
16A muzzleloader	300”+	20:100	100%	50% with 9 points	100% with 10 points

 

Nonresident best hunt options to consider in the 13 to 18 bonus point range
Unit	Trophy potential	Bull:cow ratio	Harvest success	Nonresident points to draw 2022
27 early archery	370”+	49:100	36%	100% with 18 points
27 late rifle	370”+	49:100	64%	28% with 14 points
1/2B/2C  late rifle	360”+	36:100	63%	31% with 14 points
8 early archery	350”+	32:100	28%	80% with 14 points
5A early archery	340”+	34:100	54%	62% with 14 points
5BN early archery	340”+	51:100	47%	100% with 18 points
5BS early archery	340”+	51:100	53%	40% with 16 points
7W early archery	340”+	20:100	46%	100% with 17 points
21 muzzleloader	340”+	46:100	33%	100% with 15 points
4A  early archery	320”+	70:100	36%	60% with 16 points
4B early archery	320”+	105:100	53%	43% with 12 points

 

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THE POINTS SYSTEM FOR ELK

2023 maximum resident bonus points for elk: 30
2023 maximum nonresident bonus points for elk: 33

Arizona elk bonus points going into 2023
Bonus points	Nonresidents	Residents
1	32,384	51,695
2	15,592	38,934
3	8,821	24,195
4	3,217	15,839
5	4,687	11,670
6	3,615	8,648
7	2,982	5,793
8	2,041	3,889
9	1,619	2,507
10	1,335	1,789
11	1,096	1,223
12	1,017	839
13	831	650
14	674	429
15	618	287
16	543	267
17	484	198
18	490	174
19	415	155
20	281	128
21	225	127
22	186	99
23	142	86
24	128	32
25	88	19
26	54	15
27	31	6
28	18	3
29	1	1
30	0	0
31	0	0
32	0	0
33	1	0

Find your draw odds

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Arizona's 2023 antelope breakdown

Arizona is still a good state for producing trophy class antelope, but it’s nowhere near as good as it was 20 years ago. Populations have seen declines mainly due tough environmental conditions and predation. While there will always be a few world class bucks taken in Arizona every fall, for the most part, hunters are harvesting average bucks on tags that have tougher draw odds than bighorn sheep. At this point, I would only advise applicants to apply for antelope in Arizona if they are already buying the $160 hunting license to apply for other species. For the $15 application fee, you have a chance in the draw. Although, if you review the odds, you will see that it’s a very slim chance and applying for antelope is similar to buying a lottery ticket. Someone is going to draw, but it’s not likely to be you or me, unfortunately.

AZGFD has cut the number of permits throughout the state in recent years and the cuts are needed. While the cuts may be good for the long term, they are not going to help move through the number of applicants backlogged in the system. 

Below we outline the GOHUNT hit list for the best Arizona antelope hunts. If you do decide to take a swing for the fence approach, my personal recommendation with the current conditions of Arizona antelope herds would be to apply for the best areas and hope you draw a random permit. Personally, I believe that Arizona’s antelope hunts are generally the most overrated hunts in the West, especially outside of the hitlist units.

2023 top hit list for hunts to consider for 80" or better bucks
Unit	Trophy potential	Harvest success	Resident points to draw (2022)	Nonresident points to draw (2022)
5B archery	80”+	17%	100% with 24 points	<.01%
6A archery	80”+	N/A	50% with 19 points	2.7% with 22 points
17B/19B archery	80”+	100%	26% with 10 points	<.01%
4B archery	80”+	0%	100% with 18 points	3% with 20 points
18A archery	80”+	0%	100% with 22 points	<.01%
19AN archery	80”+	44%	100% with 21 points	2.4% with 21 points
17B/19B muzzleloader	80”+	100%	100% with 28 points	<.01%
18A muzzleloader	80”+	50%	100% with 25 points	<.01%
19AN muzzleloader	80”+	86%	100% with 27 points	<.01%
4B rifle	80”+	82%	100% with 28 points	.6% with 28 points
5A rifle	80”+	100%	50% with 29 points	<.01%
5B rifle	80”+	100%	60% with 29 points	100% with 30 points
6A rifle	80”+	100%	50% with 28 points	<.01%
19AN rifle	80”+	82%	100% with 27 points	.9% with 28 points
19B rifle	80”+	50%	33% with 27 points	<.01%

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How to uncover hidden gem antelope units

Typically, within this section of an application article, we have some tips and tricks to find opportunities that may not be on the radar for most applicants. Unfortunately, this is not the case for Arizona antelope. There were 57 hunts available for nonresidents in 2022 and, out of those, there were six that offered a bonus point permit. For nonresidents, the Unit 10 archery antelope permit took the least number of bonus points to guarantee and it required 23 points plus. 

The best random odds were for the Unit 6B archery, Unit 8 muzzleloader or the 30A rifle hunt. Most hunts had random odds from one to 30 points in the 1% to 3% range. The best advice we can offer is to review the odds and the table below listing units with the most permits offered and pick one that looks enticing to you and hope for some luck. Someone is going to draw.

Arizona antelope hunts with 14 plus total permits
Unit/hunt	Trophy potential	Harvest success	Total permits
1 archery	75”+	31%	30
10 archery	80”+	22%	30
1 rifle	75”+	93%	25
2A rifle	80”+	80%	15
4B rifle	80”+	82%	15
5B rifle	80”+	100%	21
7 rifle	75”+	93%	40
9 rifle	75”+	80%	20
10  rifle	80”+	88%	70

 

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THE POINTS SYSTEM FOR ANTELOPE

2023 maximum resident bonus points for antelope: 33
2023 maximum nonresident bonus points for antelope: 33

Arizona antelope bonus points going into 2023
Bonus points	Nonresidents	Residents
1	8,902	14,388
2	4,538	10,853
3	2,655	6,685
4	861	4,278
5	1,542	3,064
6	1,400	3,649
7	1,201	3,370
8	870	2,823
9	787	2,550
10	661	2,177
11	693	1,892
12	606	1,721
13	537	1,406
14	418	1,206
15	420	1,080
16	425	971
17	365	933
18	359	855
19	269	698
20	219	639
21	198	626
22	202	579
23	146	458
24	96	412
25	93	297
26	67	279
27	49	215
28	30	130
29	12	53
30	7	16
31	1	5
32	1	5
33	1	1

Find your draw odds

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MANAGING POINTS AND EXPECTATIONS

Do not expect to draw an antelope permit in Arizona this year or, potentially, in your life. It’s unfortunate, but that is the current state of antelope hunting there. So why apply for Arizona antelope? The only reasons that someone should apply for antelope in Arizona is if they are already buying the hunting license to apply for the other species or they have been building points for a couple decades. Beyond that, it’s very hard to make a case for applying. For the few lucky applicants who draw a permit, Arizona has historically offered good trophy potential and opportunities to harvest. For the extra $15 fee it may be worth it to you to apply, but maintain reasonable expectations if you do apply.