Hunting in Arizona: 6 Things to Know About Urban Deer Hunting in Cities and Suburbs

Hunting in Arizona is a big game hunter’s paradise. Elk, bear, mountain lion, and bighorn sheep are abound, and deer season lasts for half of the year — but that didn't always mean sportsmen could take their game in the approximately 1 million acres of public or private property within municipal boundaries.

However, the state recently amended its laws to permit the hunting of game like deer and dove within city limits and Arizona’s 290,000 hunters rejoiced.

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Here are six things to know about urban deer hunting in cities and suburbs:

1. City Limits
As of 2011, when the Arizona Game and Fish Department took charge of regulating the use of firearms to take wildlife within municipal boundaries, Arizona hunters are allowed to hunt within city limits, with some restrictions.

2. Quarter-Mile Regulation
When hunting within municipality limits in locations where hunting is allowed, firearms are not permitted to be discharged for any reason within a quarter of a mile from an occupied structure, whether that structure is currently occupied or not.

3. Closed to Hunting
There are a few areas throughout the state that are closed to hunting, despite meeting the safe hunting requirements. These areas include most of the Phoenix metropolitan area, most city and county parks, golf courses, airports, and water treatment facilities.

Some areas offer only limited seasons and some restrict gun use to exclude high-powered rifles and handguns. The Arizona Fish & Game Department website has a map of closed areas.

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4. Licenses
The proper licenses and tags are required for urban deer hunting just as with any other hunting, even if hunters are taking game on their own property within city limits. All other hunting regulations still apply for landowners.

5. Bag Limit
Hunters, whether hunting in urban, suburban, or rural areas, have a bag limit of one deer per calendar year and big game draws can be applied for annually.

6. Seasons
Archery hunting season for deer lasts from July to January, and firearm hunting is open from October to December. Annual dates and urban hunting restrictions can be found in the Arizona Game and Fish Department Hunting Regulations Book or online.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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