Arizona Administrative Code
Title 12 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 4 - GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
Article 3 - TAKING AND HANDLING OF WILDLIFE
Section R12-4-318 - Seasons for Lawfully Taking Wild Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 12-4-318

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. Methods of lawfully taking wild mammals, birds, and reptiles during seasons designated by Commission Order as "general" seasons are designated under R12-4-304.

1. Lawful devices are defined under R12-4-101 and R12-4-301.

2. Lawful devices are listed under this Section by the range of effectiveness, from greatest range to least range.

3. A hybrid device may be used in a general season, provided:
a. All components of the hybrid device are designated as lawful for a given species under R12-4-304, and

b. No components are prohibited under R12-4-303.

B. Methods of lawfully taking big game during seasons designated by Commission Order as "special" are designated under R12-4-304. "Special" seasons are open only to a person who possesses a special big game license tag authorized under A.R.S. § 17-346 and R12-4-120.

C. When designated by Commission Order, the following seasons have specific requirements and lawful methods of take more restrictive than those for general and special seasons, as established under this Section. While taking the species authorized by the season, a person participating in:

1. A "CHAMP" season shall be a challenged hunter access/mobility permit holder as established under R12-4-217.

2. A "pioneer one-horned ram" season shall be a pioneer license holder as established under R12-4-201 and the legal animal defined under R12-4-101.

3. A "youth-only hunt" shall be under the age of 18. A youth hunter whose 18th birthday occurs during a "youth-only hunt" for which the youth hunter has a valid permit or tag may continue to participate for the duration of that "youth-only hunt."

4. A "pursuit-only" season may use dogs to pursue bears, mountain lions, or raccoons as designated by Commission Order, but shall not kill or capture the quarry.
a. A person participating in a "pursuit-only" season shall possess and, at the request of Department personnel, produce an appropriate and valid hunting license and any required tag or pursuit-only permit for the wildlife pursued, even though there shall be no kill.

b. Pursuit is allowed regardless of whether a person has met the bag limit established under R12-4-104(J) for that genus.

c. A person does not commit an offense under A.R.S. § 17-309 where the person causes or allows a dog to pursue a bear, mountain lion, or raccoon when all of the following apply:
i. A pursuit-only season for the wildlife pursued is authorized by Commission Order;

ii. The person possesses a valid hunting license and tag;

iii. The bear, mountain lion, or raccoon is not injured or killed in the course of the pursuit.

5. A "restricted season" may use any lawful method authorized for a specific species under R12-4-304, except dogs may not be used to pursue the wildlife for which the season was established.

6. An "archery-only" season shall not use any other weapons, including crossbows or bows with a device that holds the bow in a drawn position except as authorized under R12-4-216. A person participating in an "archery-only" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Bows and arrows;

b. Falconry; and

c. Atlatl throwing dart no less than five feet in length and no more than eight feet in length, equipped with a sharpened head having a blade no less than 7/16 inch cutting radius from the center of the shaft with metal, ceramic-coated metal, or ceramic cutting edges.

7. A "handgun, archery, and muzzleloader (HAM)" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Muzzleloading rifles;

b. Handguns without a vertical foregrip or any form of fixed, detachable, or collapsible buttstock, or any apparatus or extension capable of being used to steady the handgun against the body while firing;

c. Muzzleloading handguns;

d. Bows and arrows;

e. Crossbows or bows to be drawn and held with an assisting device;

f. Pre-charged pneumatic weapons capable of holding and discharging a single projectile .35 caliber or larger;

g. Pre-charged pneumatic weapons using arrows or bolts with broadheads no less than 7/8 inch in width with metal, ceramic- coated metal, or ceramic cutting edges and capable of firing a minimum of 250 feet per second; and.

h. Atlatl throwing dart no less than five feet in length and no more than eight feet in length, equipped with a sharpened head having a blade no less than 7/16 inch cutting radius from the center of the shaft with metal, ceramic-coated metal, or ceramic cutting edges.

8. A "muzzleloader" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Muzzleloading rifles or muzzleloading handguns

b. Bows and arrows, and

c. Crossbows or bows to be drawn and held with an assisting device.

9. A "limited weapon" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices for taking wildlife, if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Bows and arrows,

b. Crossbows or bows to be drawn and held with an assisting device,

c. Pneumatic weapons capable of holding and discharging a single projectile .25 caliber or smaller,

d. Hand-propelled projectiles,

e. Any trap except foothold traps,

f. Slingshots,

g. Dogs,

h. Falconry,

i. Nets, or

j. Capture by hand.

10. A "limited weapon hand or hand-held implement" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices for taking wildlife, if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Catch-pole,

b. Hand,

c. Snake hook, or

d. Snake tongs.

11. A "limited weapon-pneumatic" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices for taking wildlife, if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Pneumatic weapons discharging a single projectile .25 caliber or smaller,

b. Hand-propelled projectiles,

c. Slingshots,

d. Dogs,

e. Falconry,

f. Nets, or

g. Capture by hand.

12. A "limited weapon-rimfire" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices for taking wildlife, if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Rifled firearms using rimfire cartridges,

b. Shotgun shooting shot or slug,

c. Bows and arrows,

d. Crossbows or bows to be drawn and held with an assisting device,

e. Pneumatic weapons,

f. Hand-propelled projectiles,

g. Any trap except foothold traps,

h. Slingshots,

i. Dogs,

j. Falconry,

k. Nets, or

l. Capture by hand.

13. A "limited weapon-shotgun" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices for taking wildlife, if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Shotgun shooting shot or slug,

b. Muzzleloading shotgun,

c. Bows and arrows,

d. Crossbows or bows to be drawn and held with an assisting device,

e. Pneumatic weapons,

f. Hand-propelled projectiles,

g. Any trap except foothold traps,

h. Slingshots,

i. Dogs,

j. Falconry,

k. Nets, or

l. Capture by hand.

14. A "limited weapon-shotgun shooting shot" season may use one or more of the following methods or devices for taking wildlife, if authorized under R12-4-304 as lawful for the species hunted:
a. Shotgun shooting shot,

b. Muzzleloading shotgun shooting shot,

c. Bows and arrows,

d. Crossbows or bows to be drawn and held with an assisting device,

e. Pneumatic weapons,

f. Hand-propelled projectiles,

g. Any trap except foothold traps,

h. Slingshots,

i. Dogs,

j. Falconry,

k. Nets, or

l. Capture by hand.

15. A "falconry-only" season shall be a falconer licensed under R12-4-422 unless exempt under A.R.S. § 17-236(C) or R12-4-407. A falconer participating in a "falconry-only" season shall use no other method of take except falconry.

16. A "raptor capture" season shall be a falconer licensed under R12-4-422 unless exempt under R12-4-407.

17. A "limited-entry" season means any hunting opportunity for which a limited number of permits is made available to the public.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.