Changes to Arizona’s OTC deer hunts


Photo credit: Dreamstime

Undoubtedly, the OTC archery hunts for Arizona mule deer and Coues deer have become some of the more publicized opportunity hunts in the west. In the past few years, the state has made some major changes to these seasons in response to increasing complaints of hunting pressure and increasing drought conditions throughout the west. 

For 2022, the state is making some interesting changes, and anyone interested in hunting the Grand Canyon State will want to be versed in these prior to heading out for their trip.

THE CHANGES

As of April 1, 2022, all of the OTC deer seasons will now be enforced by harvest limits and hunters will be required to report their deer harvest 48 hours of taking their deer (details will be published in the 2022-2023 Arizona Hunting Regulations booklet and updated here when available). When the archery deer harvest limit for a particular unit and species has been reported the unit will be closed to further archery deer hunting at sundown the Wednesday immediately following. 

Hunters will be responsible for checking the status of their desired unit online or by telephone before hunting. The department will also have a section on its website dedicated to the status of these units.

Some of the hunts have very low harvest quotas and these could potentially close during the August OTC seasons, essentially closing the later December and January hunts. It is generally advised that if you looking to hunt any of these OTC seasons to have several backup units with spots marked and ready to go.

Arizona 2022 OTC Archery deer season breakdown

UnitsSeason DatesLegal
deer
2022 harvest quota

1

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022 

Any antlered deer 

35

2A, 2B, and 2C

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022 

Any antlered deer 

5

3B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022 

Any antlered deer 

5

4A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

5

4B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

10

5A and 5B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

25

6A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

25

6A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

20

6B

​​Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

20

6B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

5

7 and 9

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

65

8

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

15

8

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer

5

10

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

25

15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

20

16A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

25

17B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

30

18A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

15

18B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

25

19A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

45

19B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

15

20A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

7

20B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

30

20C

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

45

21

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

25

21

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

50

22

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

30

22

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

50

23

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

30

23

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

40

24A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

5

24A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

50

24B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer 

15

24B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

75

25M

Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

30

26M

Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer

30

27

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022

Antlered mule deer

55

27 and 28

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

50

28

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

50

29

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

10

29

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

75

30A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

50

30A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

70

30B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

60

30B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

55

31

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

15

31

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

65

32

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

50

32

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

110

33

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

15

33

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

140

34A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

5

34A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

185

34B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

5

34B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

35

35A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered ​​mule deer

5

35A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

80

35B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

5

35B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

90

36A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

40

36A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

40

36B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

30

36B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

230

36C

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered mule deer

5

36C

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Antlered whitetail deer 

70

37A

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

25

37B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

35

38M

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

25

39, 40A, and 40B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

35

41

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

35

42

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

​​Any antlered deer 

20

43A, 43B, 44A, 44B

Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

30

45A, 45B, 45C

Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023 

Any antlered deer 

15

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