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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will once again offer hunters an opportunity to draw an additional permit-tag to hunt mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and elk, while generating revenue to support wildlife conservation efforts across the state.
Included in this year’s Copper State Draw is a single permit-tag to hunt antlered mule deer on the scenic “Arizona Strip,” a premier location north of the Grand Canyon. This highly sought-after permit-tag is for Game Management Units 13A and 13B between Aug. 22 and Oct. 2.
The Copper State Draw will open at 8 a.m. (Arizona time) Wednesday, April 1, and will close at 5 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, April 7. To apply, visit https://copperstatedraw.azgfd.com/.
Applicants must have a Customer ID to submit an application. There are four ways to locate a Customer ID: 1) Log into your AZGFD portal account, and click on “View Details” under “My AZGFD Dashboard;” 2) Check your hunting or combination hunt and fish license, if it was purchased online; 3) A Customer ID number can be retrieved by visiting https://customerlookup.azgfd.com/. If the account is located, AZGFD will send the Customer ID number to that email address; 4) Call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Don’t have a Customer ID? Visit www.accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register to sign up for a free AZGFD portal account. For those applicants who believe they have a portal account but are unable to locate their Customer ID by using the Customer ID Retrieval Tool, call the department at 602-942-3000 to avoid creating a duplicate account.
Applicants who are drawn for a permit-tag will be contacted by the department during the week of April 13, at which time payment will be required before the permit-tag can be mailed. It is the responsibility of each applicant to provide accurate contact information to avoid missing an opportunity to receive the permit-tag for which they were drawn.
These opportunities should not be confused with the annual draws that are conducted by the department in February, June and October. A Copper State Draw permit-tag application does not preclude an applicant from applying for any other hunts throughout the year or impact bonus points. Animals harvested during Copper State Draw seasons are excluded from annual bag limits.
In addition:
- This is discretionary. The objective is to generate revenue in order to maintain current operations, and limit or eliminate the need to increase license and hunt permit-tag fees.
- The issuance of a specific number of Copper State Draw permit-tags will not adversely affect management objectives for a species or area. These hunts will not impact the number of permit-tags made available for the annual draws. The related harvest will have an insignificant impact on wildlife populations.
- A valid Arizona hunting (or combination hunt and fish) license is not needed at the time of application; it is required if an applicant draws a Copper State Draw permit-tag.
- Applicants can select up to six Copper State Draw permit-tag hunts on one application. Multiple applications will not be accepted.
- At the time of application, an applicant shall submit the required application fee ($13 for Arizona residents, $15 for nonresidents) for each selected hunt number.
- Each applicant must apply individually. Applicants cannot apply as a group, unlike the annual draws.
- If an applicant enters inaccurate information during the application process, or attempts to enter the draw for a hunt more than once, all applications will be deemed invalid.
- After an application has been saved, an applicant cannot begin a new one. An applicant can return to their application to make changes as long as the draw is open and final payment has not been submitted. Once final payment is accepted, an applicant can no longer make changes or apply for additional hunts.
A total of six permit-tags will be available for the following hunting opportunities:
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Elk (any elk): Aug. 1, 2026 - Oct 15, 2026. Open areas: Units 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B.
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Elk (any elk): Aug. 1, 2026 - Oct. 15, 2026. Open areas: Units 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, 15A, 15B, 16A, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, 20A.
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Mule deer (antlered): Aug. 15, 2026 - Sept. 25, 2026. Open areas: Units 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 28, 31, 32, 37A, 37B.
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Mule deer (antlered): Aug. 22, 2026 - Oct. 2, 2026. Open areas: Units 13A, 13B
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White-tailed deer (antlered): Aug. 15, 2026 - Sept. 25, 2026. Open areas: Units 21, 22, 23, 24A, 24B, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 36C.
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Pronghorn (buck): Aug. 1, 2026 - Oct 15, 2026. Open areas: Units 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 17A, 17B, 18A, 19A, 19B.
All hunts are general season hunts. Legal methods of take: any firearm, pre-charged pneumatic weapon, crossbow, or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304.
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