Photo Credit: harrycollinsphotography_Envato
13A Archery Antelope (Hunt #2052)– 5 Tags, first crack at them before rifle hunts. For the first time in recent memory AZGFD has issued archery antelope permits for the Arizona strip. These hunts should be prime rut, before the rifle hunters or anyone else has had a crack at them. The unit has put out good bucks in the past, but trophy quality can be all over the map. I can’t wait to see what happens on this one.
8 Early Rifle Bull (Hunt #3005). 25 tags, ideal dates, top end bulls. The opportunity to hunt rutting bulls with a rifle in Unit 8 only comes around every few years. The unit has been producing sold bulls on both the archery and late rifle hunts and has a good mixture of habitat types. I’m expecting big things from this one.
27 Early Muzzleloader Bull (Hunt #3107). This hunt alternates between rifle and muzzleloader. This year, 2025, is a muzzleloader year which usually gives you a slight improvement on point creep. The hunt avoids the full moon and should be timed well for one of the state’s most remote hunting opportunities.
