Arizona Elk Hunt Scouting | Trophy Bull Rates & Units

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Elk Hunting in Arizona

Arizona is one of the best places in North America to hunt a trophy bull elk. Arizona's native Merriam's elk died out by the early 1900s. In 1913 the state restored the herd with Rocky Mountain elk brought in from Yellowstone. Today the high country, from the Mogollon Rim to the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests, produces some of the biggest bulls taken anywhere. Every elk tag in Arizona is issued through the state draw, and many hunters wait years for a good unit. That's why showing up already knowing where the elk are matters so much.

Arizona Elk Units I Scout

I scout these game management units (GMUs) for elk:

• Units 3A and 3C: pinyon-juniper and grassland country north of the Mogollon Rim around Heber, Show Low and Snowflake
• Units 4A and 4B: Mogollon Rim country around Forest Lakes, Chevelon Canyon and Clear Creek
• Units 5A, 5B North and 5B South: the Coconino National Forest southeast of Flagstaff, from Mormon Lake and Happy Jack out to Anderson Mesa
• Unit 6A: ponderosa pine and canyon country south of Flagstaff to the Mogollon Rim
• Unit 7: the Kaibab National Forest around Williams and Parks
• Unit 8: south of Williams toward Sycamore Canyon
• Unit 9: the Coconino Plateau south of the Grand Canyon
• Unit 10: large private ranch country west of Williams near Seligman, where special access rules apply
• Units 22 and 23: the Tonto National Forest below the Rim around Payson, Young and the Sierra Ancha

Drew a unit that isn't listed? Statewide hunts are available, so contact me and we'll talk about your tag.

Arizona Elk Seasons

Exact dates change every year and are published in the Arizona Game & Fish elk regulations. The general pattern:

• Archery bull: September, during the rut, when bulls are bugling. These are some of the most sought-after tags in the state.
• Muzzleloader bull: usually late September into October, near the end of the rut.
• Early rifle bull: late September and early October, timed with the rut in many units. High demand, hard to draw.
• Late rifle bull: November and December, when post-rut bulls change their patterns around food and cover.
• Cow and antlerless hunts: fall and winter seasons, generally easier to draw. I offer 3-day cow hunts in September, October and December in all units.
• Youth hunts: youth-only seasons are offered in many units.

Check the current Arizona hunting regulations for exact dates and hunt numbers before you apply.

How to Apply for an Arizona Elk Tag

Arizona has one elk and pronghorn draw each year, with applications due in early February. AZGFD sets the exact date each year, usually a Tuesday in early February.

1. Create a free AZGFD portal account at accounts.azgfd.com. It's the only place to see your draw results and bonus points.
2. Buy an Arizona hunting license. Residents and nonresidents 10 and older need a valid license. Buy a license from AZGFD.
3. Read the Pronghorn and Elk regulations, which are released in early January, and choose up to five hunt choices.
4. Apply online at draw.azgfd.com before the February deadline.
5. Check your results in your portal account. If you don't draw, you earn a bonus point, and leftover tags are sometimes available after the draw.

Tip: Call me before you apply. I can tell you how the units I scout are holding elk this year, which can help you rank your hunt choices.

How Arizona Bonus Points Work

• You earn one bonus point each year you apply for elk and don't draw.
• Up to 20% of the elk tags in each hunt go first to applicants with the most bonus points (first and second choices only). This is the "bonus pass."
• The rest of the tags are drawn randomly, and every bonus point gives your application an extra random number.
• You can earn extra points through a Hunter Education bonus point, a Loyalty bonus point and the Ethically Hunting Arizona course.
• Nonresidents are capped at 10% of the tags in each hunt.
• PointGuard lets you surrender a tag you can't use without losing your bonus points.

Full details: AZGFD bonus point process and how the big game draw works.

How I Scout Your Elk Hunt

1. You draw and book. We talk through your unit, weapon, dates and what kind of bull you're after.
2. I scout your unit. Through the summer and fall I glass and track elk feeding areas, water sources, bedding cover and travel routes in your unit.
3. You hunt with a plan. By opening day I already know where the elk have been and how they're moving.

This is fair chase hunting. I don't bait or lure animals. I learn their natural patterns by watching them, day after day.

Arizona Elk Hunt FAQ

When is the Arizona elk draw deadline?

The elk and pronghorn draw closes in early February each year. AZGFD sets the exact date each year, usually a Tuesday in early February. Regulations for the next draw come out in early January on the AZGFD big game draw page.

Can nonresidents hunt elk in Arizona?

Yes. Nonresidents apply through the same draw but are limited to 10% of the tags in each hunt. Many of my hunters come from out of state, and scouting helps most when you can't spend time in the unit yourself.

How many bonus points do I need to draw an Arizona elk tag?

It depends on the unit, weapon and season. Rut archery and early rifle bull tags in top units can take many years of points, while late-season and cow hunts can often be drawn with few or no points. AZGFD publishes draw reports for each hunt on its bonus point page.

What does an elk scout do?

I do the fieldwork before your hunt. I spend weeks in your unit glassing and tracking elk to learn where they feed, water, bed and travel, so you start your hunt knowing where to look instead of burning days learning the country.

What's included in the price?

Rates are per hunt for one or two hunters, with one scout per hunt. Camp-included packages are available, and an RV can be added for $350 per week in Units 5A, 5B and 6A. Your hunting license and elk tag are purchased from Arizona Game & Fish and are not included.

Which weapons can I hunt with?

Archery, muzzleloader, rifle and handgun hunts are all available, along with youth hunts, in every unit where you hold a valid tag.

When should I book?

As soon as you know you've drawn. Scouting starts well before opening day, and I take only a small number of hunters each season.

Drew an Arizona elk tag? Call Marco at 928-821-1192 or email me to talk about your unit.