How to Draw an Arizona Elk Tag: Units, Points, and Strategy
How to Draw an Arizona Elk Tag: Units, Points, and Strategy
Arizona holds some of the most coveted elk tags in North America. The state's elk genetics, combined with conservative harvest management and large, roadless hunting units with relatively low hunting pressure, produce bulls that rival anything from Colorado or New Mexico. A mature Arizona bull in a trophy unit can score 380–420+ inches of antler — legitimately world-class.
The barrier to entry is the draw. Every Arizona elk tag is allocated through a controlled hunt draw — there are no over-the-counter elk tags in Arizona. The process is navigable, but it requires a multi-year strategy if you want to access the top units. Here is everything you need to know.
Why Arizona Elk Are Special
Genetics: Arizona's Rocky Mountain elk population was established from high-quality stock and has been managed intensively since the early 20th century. Genetics in the Kaibab and White Mountain populations are exceptional.
Low hunter pressure: Because every tag is drawn, the number of hunters per unit is tightly controlled. Elk in trophy units see dramatically less human pressure than OTC units in Colorado or Montana. The result: older age classes, less call-shy behavior, and more predictable patterns.
Terrain: Arizona's elk country ranges from the ponderosa pine forests of the White Mountains and Mogollon Rim to the high plateaus of the Kaibab and the mixed conifer of the Coconino. The terrain is huntable — not the brutal vertical of Colorado wilderness — which is a genuine advantage.
Trophy caliber: Arizona produces elk in the top tier nationally. Unit 10 (Kaibab) consistently produces Boone & Crockett entries. The White Mountains and Coconino produce multiple 370–400" bulls annually.
Arizona's Points System: How It Works
Arizona's elk draw does NOT use a straight preference point system like Wyoming or Colorado's point systems. This distinction is critical and widely misunderstood.
Bonus points, not preference points: Arizona uses a bonus point multiplier system. Each bonus point you accumulate increases the number of entries (draw squares) you receive in the random draw — it does not guarantee you a tag ahead of hunters with fewer points.
How it works:
- 0 bonus points = 1 draw entry
- 1 bonus point = 2 draw entries (1 + 1²)
- 2 bonus points = 3 draw entries (1 + 2²)
- 5 bonus points = 26 draw entries (1 + 5²)
- 10 bonus points = 101 draw entries (1 + 10²)
The formula is: draw entries = 1 + (bonus points)²
This means more points dramatically improve your odds, but a hunter with 0 points can theoretically draw a unit that a 15-point hunter fails to draw. Long-time applicants have an increasing statistical advantage, but it is never guaranteed.
Applying: Applications open each year, typically in January, with a deadline in mid-February (verify the current year's deadline with Arizona Game and Fish — dates shift slightly year to year). The fee to apply is relatively low (typically under $20 for the application plus tag fees if drawn).
Bonus point purchase: Hunters who don't draw can purchase a bonus point for a small fee each year. This keeps your point balance growing even in years where you don't apply for a specific hunt.
Application Deadline
Arizona's elk application deadline is typically in mid-February — earlier than most western states. If you are building a multi-state draw strategy, put Arizona's deadline on the calendar in January. Missing the deadline means losing a year of progress.
Results are typically announced in March–April. Drawn hunters have a short window to pay for tags.
Best Units for Trophy Bulls
Unit 10 — Kaibab Plateau: The gold standard for Arizona elk. The Kaibab Plateau, north of the Grand Canyon, produces some of the largest-bodied and highest-scoring elk in North America. Bulls in the 380–420" range are not unusual for hunters who draw late-season rifle tags. Draw odds for the best Kaibab hunts are in the 1–5% range even with maximum points — expect 10–20+ years of applications for nonresidents. Worth every year of waiting.
Unit 1 — Navajo/Apache Country: Northeastern Arizona near the New Mexico border. Large public land blocks, good elk numbers, strong trophy potential. Slightly better draw odds than the Kaibab. A realistic target for hunters in the 7–12 point range with good timing.
Unit 27 — White Mountains: The White Mountains region is the most accessible Arizona trophy elk area from a draw-odds standpoint. Large elk numbers, good habitat, ponderosa pine forests, and somewhat more realistic draw odds make Unit 27 an excellent starting point for nonresident hunters. Bulls here regularly score 340–380"+.
Units 6A/6B — Chevelon/Sitgreaves: The Sitgreaves and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests produce excellent elk. Units 6A and 6B offer a combination of quality timber habitat and good bull-to-cow ratios. Draw odds are somewhat better than the Kaibab, making these units attractive for mid-range point holders.
Early vs. Late Rifle: Why It Matters
The timing of your hunt within the season has a massive impact on trophy quality.
Early rifle (September/October): Bulls are bugling, but antlers are still in velvet or just past. The peak of the bugle is spectacular for calling. However, bulls in highly hunted units become wary quickly. Trophy quality is still high, but bulls may be more call-shy than in archery season.
Late rifle (October/November): The rut is winding down. Bulls are exhausted, often visible in open country, and less alert. November and early December limited edition hunts (Unit 10, Kaibab) are widely considered the premier trophy elk hunting in the lower 48. Hunter success rates for these late tags can be extremely high, and the average trophy quality is extraordinary.
Limited edition tags: Arizona's limited edition program issues a small number of tags for specific hunts that are available through a separate random draw. These include some of the most coveted late-season bull tags in the state. Any hunter can apply regardless of bonus points — pure random draw. Getting one is largely luck, but it is free to apply and the tags produce genuinely once-in-a-lifetime hunt quality.
Archery: August–September
Arizona's archery elk seasons (typically late August through mid-September) offer a different experience: bugling bulls in hot, intense terrain, with a shorter effective range and more demanding hunting. Archery hunters often encounter bulls more closely and with higher frequency during the rut, but the heat (90°F+ in lower elevation units) and the challenge of the bow are significant factors.
The archery draw odds in most units are better than rifle. For hunters willing to commit to archery equipment, this can significantly reduce wait time for an Arizona elk tag.
Over-the-Counter: There Is None
This bears emphasis for hunters from Colorado, Montana, or Idaho: Arizona has zero OTC elk tags. Every elk tag — archery, muzzleloader, and rifle — is drawn. This is the fundamental trade-off: Arizona's elk quality is exceptional precisely because the harvest is controlled. If you want guaranteed elk hunting without years of waiting, Arizona is not the answer. If you want the potential to shoot one of the finest bulls available in North America, Arizona is worth every year of investment.
Nonresident Strategy: Building Points
Start now: Every year you delay is a year of compounding bonus points lost. The application fee is modest and worth starting immediately, even if you are not ready to hunt for several years.
Realistic expectations:
- Unit 27 (White Mountains): 4–7 years for most nonresident hunters
- Unit 6A/6B: 5–9 years
- Unit 1: 8–12 years
- Unit 10 (Kaibab, best hunts): 12–20+ years
Apply for multiple hunt types: Apply for a combination of your dream unit and more accessible units each year. You can only draw one elk tag per year, but applying in categories increases your chance of tagging out faster.
Don't bank points in hope of Kaibab: Many hunters hoard points waiting for Unit 10. The math is unforgiving — you may never draw that specific hunt. Consider drawing a quality but more accessible unit (Unit 27, 6A) while points are in the 5–8 range. A 370" White Mountains bull is a phenomenal trophy.
Using an Outfitter for the Draw Process
Arizona outfitters who hold legitimate state guide licenses can assist nonresidents with the application process, unit selection, and strategy. Some outfitters offer application services that help hunters optimize their unit choices given current draw odds and point accumulation. Using an outfitter does not guarantee a draw — Arizona does not allow outfitter preference — but a good guide's knowledge of specific units and current herd conditions is invaluable when choosing where to direct your points.
Bridge Hunts While Building Points
What do you do in the years you're not hunting Arizona? Options that offer elk hunting quality while waiting:
New Mexico Unit 34 (Gila Wilderness): Arguably the second-best trophy elk hunting in the Southwest. Draw odds are difficult but more achievable than Arizona's top units. OTC archery tags available in some units.
Wyoming General Season elk tags: Available OTC for archery and in draw for rifle. Quality varies by unit. Wyoming's general elk is not Arizona Kaibab, but it is accessible and offers real hunting.
Colorado OTC elk: Lower trophy quality in OTC units but accessible immediately. The experience and scouting skills gained hunting Colorado's OTC country translate directly to Arizona.
Outfitted New Mexico/Idaho/Montana draw hunts: Building points across multiple states while hunting OTC or easier-draw states each year is the long-game strategy of serious western hunters.
Cost
Once you draw an Arizona elk tag, budget accordingly:
| Component | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Nonresident elk tag | ~$600–$700 (check current AZGFD fee schedule) |
| Guided hunt (7–10 days) | $8,000–$15,000 |
| Travel and accommodation | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Trophy preparation and shipping | $500–$1,500 |
| Taxidermy (Euro to full shoulder) | $400–$2,500 |
The tag itself is modest relative to the guided hunt cost. Most hunters who have waited 10+ years for a Kaibab tag invest in a professional outfitter — the opportunity is too valuable to risk on unfamiliarity with the terrain.
Ready to Book an Arizona Elk Hunt — or Plan Your Point Strategy?
WildTag lists vetted Arizona and New Mexico elk outfitters — guided hunts in Units 10, 27, and the White Mountains, plus New Mexico bridge hunts while you build Arizona points.
Browse Arizona and New Mexico elk hunt listings on WildTag →