Arizona’s elk calendar is unusual. Archery hunters get mid-September, and some rifle hunters get the last week of September, when bulls are still bugling. That rut rifle hunt is one of the most sought-after elk tags in the West. Other bull hunts run around Thanksgiving, with cow, youth, muzzleloader, and late archery hunts filling in the rest of the fall.

The 2026 pattern

Hunt type	Typical 2026 dates	Notes
Archery bull	September 11–24	Most units, right in the rut
Early general (rifle) bull	September 25 – October 1	Rut rifle hunts in units like 9, 10, 23, and 27
Muzzleloader bull	Varies: September 25 – October 1 in Units 1/2B/2C; November in some units	Check your hunt number
Youth-only general	Mostly October 9–15	Youth only
Cow (antlerless)	Mid-October and December, such as October 16–22 or December 4–10	Good odds, great meat hunts
Late archery bull	November, such as November 6–19 or November 13–26	Some units only
Late general (rifle) bull	November 27 – December 3	Many units

Dates vary by unit and hunt number. The AZGFD regulations list the exact dates for every hunt.

Example 2026 hunts

These are real 2026 hunts from the AZGFD Pronghorn and Elk Draw regulations.

Unit	Hunt	2026 dates
1/2B/2C	Archery bull	September 11–24
1/2B/2C	Muzzleloader bull	September 25 – October 1
1/2B/2C	Late archery bull	November 6–19
9	Early general bull (rifle)	September 25 – October 1
9	Late general bull (rifle)	November 27 – December 3
10	Early general bull (rifle)	September 25 – October 1
10	Late general bull (rifle)	November 27 – December 3
23	Late archery bull	November 13–26
6A	Muzzleloader bull	November 13–19
27	Second late general bull	December 4–10

What each season is like

Archery (mid-September)

Peak rut. Bulls are bugling, herding cows, and responding to calls. Arizona archery elk hunting is famous for close encounters with big bulls in open pine forest. Days can still be warm, so get meat cooled quickly.

Early rifle (late September)

This is the hunt Arizona hunters wait years for. You get rut action and rifle range at the same time. Bulls are vocal and visible, and spotters with good optics are a big help. Expect it to take a lot of points, especially as a nonresident.

Muzzleloader

Some muzzleloader hunts fall in late September during the rut; others come in November, after bulls have split from cows. Check your hunt number carefully.

Late rifle (around Thanksgiving)

Bulls are post-rut, often in small bachelor groups, and feeding hard. Cold weather and early snow can move elk. Glassing open parks and burns at first and last light works well. These hunts usually have more tags and better odds than the rut hunts.

Late archery (November)

Fewer hunters and post-rut bulls. Hunting water, feeding areas, and travel routes is more effective than calling.

Cow hunts

Antlerless hunts in October and December are some of the easiest Arizona elk tags to draw, and a good way to learn a unit while you build points for a bull.

How to pick your hunt

• Want to hear bugling with a rifle in hand? An early general bull hunt in late September, if you have the points.
• Want the rut with a bow? A September archery hunt.
• Want better odds while building points? A late rifle bull hunt or a cow hunt.
• Want fewer hunters? Late archery.

Key license dates for 2026

• Application deadline: February 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Arizona time
• Tags mailed: by April 1, 2026
• Leftover tags: mail applications from March 16; in-person sales from March 23

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

Related: How Arizona draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Arizona Elk Hunting Guide · Leftover and nonpermit elk tags · Cost of an Arizona elk hunt

Season dates are from the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2026 Pronghorn and Elk Draw regulations. Confirm the dates for your hunt number in the current regulations.