Arizona has two deer worth traveling for. Mule deer range from the Kaibab Plateau and the Arizona Strip, famous for big-framed bucks, to the desert mountains of the south. Coues whitetail, a small desert whitetail, live in the oak and grass mountains of central and southeastern Arizona and draw hunters from all over the country. Arizona is the heart of Coues deer hunting in the United States.

Arizona is also one of the few western states where a nonresident can buy an over-the-counter archery deer tag, though even that now has a cap. This guide explains your options. Start here, then use the links below to go deeper.

Arizona deer hunting at a glance

Agency	Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), azgfd.gov, 602-942-3000
Deer draw	Deer are in the fall draw. The 2026 deadline was Tuesday, June 2, at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time
Tags mailed	By July 24 in 2026
Draw type	Bonus points, with up to 20% of tags in each hunt reserved for the top point holders
Nonresident cap	No more than 10% of the antlered deer tags in any hunt
Deer tag	$315 nonresident, $58 resident, including the application fee (2026)
OTC archery deer	Nonpermit-tag: $300 nonresident, $45 resident. Nonresident tags are capped and sold online starting in November for the next year
License	Required. Nonresidents need the $160 combination hunt and fish license
Seasons	Archery in late summer and December–January, rifle hunts from late October through December

Fees and dates are from AZGFD’s 2026–27 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Always confirm with the current regulations before you apply.

Step 1: Pick mule deer or Coues whitetail

• Coues whitetail live in central and southeastern Arizona, including units like 22, 23, and 24A. They’re small, sharp-eyed, and hunted mostly by glassing from a distance. Arizona’s regulations simply call them “whitetail.”
• Mule deer live statewide. The Kaibab (Unit 12A) and the Arizona Strip (Units 12B, 13A, 13B) are known for trophy bucks and take years to draw. Desert mule deer hunts in the south are easier to get.

Step 2: Decide how you will get a tag

• The draw. Rifle, muzzleloader, and many archery deer hunts are drawn in June. Read our step-by-step draw guide.
• Over-the-counter archery. An archery deer nonpermit-tag lets you hunt archery-only seasons in open units without drawing. See how OTC archery deer works.

Step 3: Pick your season

Coues whitetail rut in winter, so December and January hunts are prime. Mule deer rifle hunts run from late October through November, with some into December. See 2026 Arizona deer season dates.

Step 4: Set a realistic budget

A nonresident pays about $475 for a license and drawn tag, or about $460 for an OTC archery tag and license. Guided Coues hunts commonly run $3,500 to $6,500, and a guided Kaibab or Strip mule deer hunt can reach $12,500. Break down the full cost.

Step 5: Choose guided or DIY

Coues deer reward local knowledge more than almost any other western hunt. Compare guided and DIY deer hunts.

Before you go: requirements every hunter needs

• License: Residents $37 hunting or $57 combination; nonresidents $160 combination; youth combination $5. Required to apply and to hunt.
• Customer ID and portal account: Required to apply and to see results.
• Hunter education: Required for ages 10 to 13 hunting big game.
• Harvest reports: OTC archery deer harvests must be reported online within 48 hours.
• Trail cameras: Trail camera data may not be used to take or locate wildlife.

Hunting elk too?

Arizona’s elk draw closes in early February. See our Arizona elk hunting guide.

Find an Arizona deer outfitter

Horn & Fin lists guides, outfitters, and DIY options for Coues whitetail and mule deer across Arizona.

More Arizona deer guides

• How to apply for the Arizona deer draw
• Arizona OTC archery deer tags
• Arizona deer season dates
• How much does an Arizona deer hunt cost?
• Guided vs. DIY deer hunting in Arizona
• How Arizona draw points work
• Arizona draw odds by unit