Arizona’s deer seasons stretch from late summer to the end of January. Rifle hunts for both Coues whitetail and mule deer start in late October, the famous Kaibab and Arizona Strip hunts run in late October and November, and some of the best Coues whitetail hunting comes in December and January, during the rut.

The dates below are from AZGFD’s 2026–27 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Each hunt number in the regulations lists its exact dates, weapon, and bag limit.

The 2026 pattern

Hunt type	Typical 2026 dates	Notes
OTC archery (nonpermit-tag)	Late summer and again in December–January	Open units only; units close at their harvest limit
Early general (rifle) whitetail	October 23–29	Many Coues units
Kaibab and Strip mule deer	Late October to late November	Premium draw hunts
Second general whitetail	November 6–12	Many Coues units
General mule deer, central and southern units	Late October to mid-November	Varies by unit
Late whitetail	November 27 – December 6 and December 11–31 in some units	Close to the Coues rut
Late mule deer	December 11–31 in some units	Limited tags

Draw archery-only, muzzleloader, and youth-only deer hunts also run in many units. Dates vary by unit and hunt number, so check the regulations.

Example 2026 general (rifle) hunts

These are real 2026 hunts from the AZGFD fall regulations.

Unit	Deer	2026 dates
12A (Kaibab)	Any antlered deer	October 23 – November 1; November 20–29
12B (Arizona Strip)	Any antlered deer	October 23 – November 1; November 20–29
13A (Arizona Strip)	Any antlered deer	November 13–22
13B (Arizona Strip)	Any antlered deer	November 6–15
22	Whitetail	October 23–29; November 6–12; December 11–31
23	Whitetail	October 23–29; November 6–12; December 11–31
24A	Whitetail	October 23–29; November 6–12; November 27 – December 6; December 11–31
33	Mule deer	October 30 – November 5
36A	Mule deer	October 30 – November 5; November 13–19; December 11–31

Unit 22 note: A drawdown of Canyon Lake began September 16, 2026, for about 16 weeks, and most of the huntable area north of the lake is restricted until the work is done. If you drew a Unit 22 tag, check with AZGFD before you go.

What each season is like

Late summer archery

Hot, with monsoon storms in the afternoons. Deer are in summer patterns and some bucks are still in velvet. Glass early, hunt water, and get meat cooled fast.

Late October whitetail rifle

The first Coues rifle hunts come before the rut. Bucks are bedded most of the day and are found by glassing at first and last light. Hunts are seven days, and they draw more hunters than late hunts.

Kaibab and Arizona Strip (late October and November)

These are Arizona’s premier mule deer hunts and take years of points. The November hunts on the Kaibab catch bucks moving toward the rut and toward winter range. Expect cold mornings and possible snow at elevation.

Desert mule deer (late October and November)

Bucks in the southern and central desert units live in open, rocky country. Spot-and-stalk with long glassing sessions is the norm.

December and January

The Coues whitetail rut runs from late December into January. Late rifle hunts and OTC archery hunts in this window see bucks moving in daylight. Many hunters consider it the best time of year to hunt Coues deer.

How to pick your hunt

• Want a Coues buck during the rut? A December rifle hunt or a January OTC archery hunt.
• Want the best draw odds? An early whitetail rifle hunt, which usually has hundreds of tags.
• Want a trophy mule deer? The Kaibab or Arizona Strip, if you have the points.
• Bowhunter without a drawn tag? An OTC archery tag. See how it works.

Key license dates

• Draw deadline: June 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Arizona time
• Tags mailed: by July 24, 2026
• Leftover tags: mail applications from July 6; office sales from July 13
• Nonresident 2027 OTC archery tags on sale: November 2, 2026, 8 a.m. Arizona time

Read our step-by-step guide to the Arizona deer draw

Related: How Arizona draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Arizona Deer Hunting Guide · OTC archery deer tags · Cost of an Arizona deer hunt

Season dates are from the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2026–27 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Confirm the dates for your hunt number in the current regulations.