Hunting in Arizona: 3 Animals To Hunt in the Spring

While Arizona laws vary in what species are in open season throughout the year, there are plenty of game animals for hunting in the spring in Arizona.

The state regulates how many of a species may be taken, how many hunters may participate in the take, and other relevant regulations. Hunters may only apply to hunt animals in season, and hunting permit applications are due the October before the spring hunting season. This list includes three animals it is legal to take in the spring while hunting in Arizona.

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1. Turkey
The Arizona Game & Fish Department spring 2015 regulation handbook lists the turkey as the first animal available for hunting in Arizona in the spring. In open season from late April to late May, the turkey is a prime bird for hunting for consumption. Each hunter is restricted to a bag limit of one turkey per calendar year.

2. Javelina
A herd animal weighing up to 60 pounds, the javelina has been listed by the Arizona Game & Fish Department as an important big game animal since after World War II. Hunting for this animal is restricted to those hunters who apply and obtain javelina tags and permits from the draw and each hunter is restricted to a two-animal bag limit.

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3. Bear
Many big game hunters dream of posing next to a huge bear. The black bear species is in season during the spring in Arizona. These animals typically can be founded in forested areas, according to the Arizona Game & Fish Department. Despite a complex history of opened and closed seasons of varying lengths, recent years have had month-long seasons for hunting bears in the fall and spring that close once a certain number of female bears are taken. Hunters who have taken a bear must have it inspected by the Arizona Game & Fish Department.

A more comprehensive list of species for hunt during each month in Arizona can be found on the Arizona Game & Fish Department website.

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

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