Arizona › Hunting seasons › Units › Unit 3A
11 hunt numbers · 2026-27
Unit 3A in the Arizona draw and OTC calendar
94 season rows and 11 hunt numbers cover this 772-square-mile unit run from the Pinetop office.
Photo: Kevin Dooley (CC0 1.0)
Counties inside Unit 3A
Measured on the AZGFD boundary layer, Unit 3A spans 772 square miles. 80% of that ground is in Navajo County, and the unit belongs to AZGFD Region I (Pinetop).
2 counties share Unit 3A; the table below gives each piece in square miles and as a share of the unit and of the county.
| County piece | Sq mi | Unit share | County share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo County | 622.6 | 80% | 6% |
| Apache County | 150.3 | 20% | 1% |
Land in Unit 3A is a mix of BLM, other, National Forest, private and State Trust Land, according to the AZGFD unit layer. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest reaches into Unit 3A. AZGFD marks no military land here.
For Unit 3A the layer mentions Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope and Dove, a list kept for the whole unit rather than any one parcel.
Area, region, ownership, species list, forest and military fields from the AZGFD Game Management Unit layer (overlay with Census county lines); unit maps in the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations; checked November 7, 2026.
Unit 3A unit-level rules
- The archery deer limit table skips Unit 3A.
- Bear female limits do not name Unit 3A.
- Zone H covers Unit 3A for lions; its threshold is 7.
- Chronic wasting disease testing is voluntary and free for deer and elk from Unit 3A.
- Expect the chance of a Mexican wolf in Unit 3A; they cannot be hunted.
- Trappers can work Unit 3A from November 1 to February 28 with a trapping license; no foothold, body-gripping or snare traps on public land.
Archery deer limits, bear female limits, lion zones, crane zones, metro units, CWD, Mexican wolf and trapping pages of the Arizona Game and Fish Department booklets; checked November 7, 2026.
Unit 3A season dates, 2026-27
The tables split the 94 season rows for Unit 3A by how you get the tag. Draw rows (11) need a hunt permit-tag; the 6 nonpermit-tag rows can be bought over the counter. Pronghorn and elk rows show the 2026 season; new dates arrive with the January 2027 booklet.
A population management row is not a general season; hunters join the Supplemental Hunter Pool first.
Drawn hunt permit-tags (11)
| Species | Hunt | Legal animal | Dates | Hunt numbers here | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery-only | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Sep 10 | 1200 | |
| Deer | General | Any antlered deer | Oct 23–Nov 1 | 1003 | |
| Deer | General | Any antlered deer | Dec 11–31 | 1004 | |
| Elk | Archery-only | Antlerless elk | Sep 11–24 | 3171 | |
| Elk | Archery-only | Bull elk | Sep 11–24 | 3127 | |
| Elk | General | Bull elk | Sep 25–Oct 1 | 3001 | |
| Elk | Youth-only (general) | Antlerless elk | Oct 9–15 | 3064 | |
| Elk | General | Antlerless elk | Nov 6–12 | 3036 | |
| Elk | General | Bull elk | Nov 27–Dec 3 | 3012 | |
| Pronghorn | Archery-only | Buck pronghorn | Aug 21–Sep 3 | 2039 | |
| Pronghorn | General | Buck pronghorn | Oct 2–11 | 2004 |
Over-the-counter tags (6)
| Species | Hunt | Legal animal | Area | Dates | Harvest limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | General | Any elk | Winslow-Holbrook Hunt Area | Jan 1–Mar 31 Aug 1–Dec 31 | — | |
| Elk | General | Bull elk | Winslow-Holbrook Hunt Area | Apr 1–Jul 31 | — | |
| Javelina | HAM | Any javelina | 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A North, 7, and 9 | Jan 1–Dec 31 | — | |
| Javelina | HAM spring | Any javelina | 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A North, 7, and 9 | Jan 1–Dec 31 | — | |
| Mountain lion | General | Any lion except spotted kittens or females accompanied by spotted kittens | Statewide | Aug 21–May 31 | — | |
| Mountain lion | Pursuit-only | Pursuit only Any lion except spotted kittens or females accompanied by spotted kittens | Statewide | Aug 21–May 31 | — |
Population management hunts (5)
| Species | Hunt | Legal animal | Area | Dates | Tags | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery-only | Designated deer | 3A, 3B, 3C | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 75 | |
| Deer | General | Designated deer | 3A, 3B, 3C | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 75 | |
| Elk | HAM | Designated elk | 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, and 4B | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 200 | |
| Elk | Archery-only | Designated elk | 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, and 4B | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 200 | |
| Elk | General | Designated elk | 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, and 4B | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 300 |
Small game and others (72)
| Species | Hunt | Area | Dates | License | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quail | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 4 | Hunting license | |
| Quail | General | Statewide | Oct 16–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Mearns' quail | General | Statewide | Dec 4–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Chukar partridge | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Dusky grouse | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 8 | Hunting license | |
| Pheasant | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 7–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Pheasant | Archery-only | Statewide | Oct 16–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Tree squirrels | Archery-only | Statewide | Aug 21–Oct 1 | Hunting license | |
| Tree squirrels | Falconry-only | Statewide | Aug 21–Jan 31 | Hunting license | |
| Tree squirrels | General | Statewide | Oct 2–Jan 31 | Hunting license | |
| Cottontail rabbit | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Cottontail rabbit | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Cottontail rabbit | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Doves | Early | Statewide | Sep 1–15 | License, bird stamp | |
| Doves | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 16–Nov 1 | License, bird stamp | |
| Doves | Late | Statewide | Nov 20–Jan 3 | License, bird stamp | |
| Eurasian collared-dove | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Aug 31 | License, bird stamp | |
| Band-tailed pigeon | General | Statewide | Sep 25–Oct 8 | License, bird stamp | |
| Ducks | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Ducks | General (scaup) | Statewide | Nov 7–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Ducks | Falconry-only | Statewide | Feb 1–4 | License, both stamps | |
| Ducks | Youth-only | Statewide | Feb 6–7 | License, both stamps | |
| Geese | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Geese | Youth-only | Statewide | Feb 6–7 | License, both stamps | |
| Coots and gallinules | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Coots and gallinules | Falconry-only | Statewide | Feb 1–4 | License, both stamps | |
| Coots and gallinules | Youth-only | Statewide | Feb 6–7 | License, both stamps | |
| Common snipe | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Badger | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Badger | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Badger | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Bobcat | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Bobcat | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Bobcat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Coati | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Coati | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Coyote | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Coyote | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Coyote | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Crow | Falconry-only | 1, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11M, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19B, and 27 | Sep 1–Dec 31 | Hunting license | |
| Crow | General | 1, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11M, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19B, 27 | Sep 1–Dec 31 | Hunting license | |
| European starling | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| European starling | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| European starling | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Foxes | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Foxes | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Foxes | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| House sparrow | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| House sparrow | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| House sparrow | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Jackrabbits | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Nongame mammals | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Nongame mammals | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Nongame mammals | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Northern bobwhite | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Northern bobwhite | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Northern bobwhite | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | Pursuit-only | Statewide | Jul 1–31 Apr 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Ringtail | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Ringtail | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Ringtail | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Skunks | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Skunks | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Skunks | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Weasel | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Weasel | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Weasel | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license |
Season rows from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations, the 2027 spring booklet, the 2026 pronghorn and elk booklet, and the waterfowl, dove and trapping leaflets; population management on pages 49-50; checked November 7, 2026.
Unit 3A hunt numbers
Unit 3A sits in the open area of 11 draw hunts (3 deer (mule deer and white-tailed deer), 6 elk and 2 pronghorn). Deadlines: fall 2026 hunts closed June 2, 2026, spring 2027 hunts closed October 6, 2026, and the 2026 pronghorn and elk draw closed February 3, 2026.
Deer, fall 2026 (3)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1003 | General | Oct 23–Nov 1 | Any antlered deer | 60 | 3A and 3C |
| 1004 | General | Dec 11–31 | Any antlered deer | 10 | 3A and 3C |
| 1200 | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 10 | Any antlered deer | 20 | 3A and 3C |
Elk, 2026 hunts, 2026 booklet (6)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3001 | General | Sep 25–Oct 1 | Bull elk | 20 | 3A and 3C |
| 3012 | General | Nov 27–Dec 3 | Bull elk | 225 | 3A and 3C |
| 3036 | General | Nov 6–12 | Antlerless elk | 175 | 3A and 3C |
| 3064 | Youth-only (general) | Oct 9–15 | Antlerless elk | 125 | 3A and 3C |
| 3127 | Archery-only | Sep 11–24 | Bull elk | 75 | 3A and 3C |
| 3171 | Archery-only | Sep 11–24 | Antlerless elk | 35 | 3A and 3C |
Pronghorn, 2026 hunts, 2026 booklet (2)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | General | Oct 2–11 | Buck pronghorn | 4 | 3A |
| 2039 | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3 | Buck pronghorn | 2 | 3A |
Raptor capture, spring 2027 (13)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20002 | Nonresidents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas northern goshawk | 3 | Statewide except all Units south of the Gila River |
| 21001 | Residents only | Apr 1–Aug 31 | Eyas peregrine falcon | 5 | Statewide |
| 21002 | Nonresidents only | Apr 1–Aug 31 | Eyas peregrine falcon | 2 | Statewide |
| 22002 | Nonresidents only | Jan 1–31 May 1–Dec 31 | Passage Harris's hawk | 10 | Statewide (excluding Yuma and La Paz counties) |
| 23001 | Residents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas or passage gray hawk | 1 | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas American Kestrel, Cooper's hawk, great horned owl, prairie falcon, and western screech owl. Eyas or passage red-tailed hawk, and sharp-shinned hawk | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–31 May 1–Dec 31 | Passage Cooper's hawk and prairie falcon | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–31 Sep 15–Dec 31 | Passage and adult American kestrel, great horned owl, and western screech owl | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Passage merlin | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Passage ferruginous hawk | — | Statewide (excluding all Units north of the Gila River, excluding Units 25M and 42) |
| Unnumbered | Residents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas Harris's hawk | 30 | Statewide (excluding Yuma and La Paz counties) |
| Unnumbered | Residents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas northern goshawk | — | Statewide except all Units south of the Gila River |
| Unnumbered | Residents only | Jan 1–Feb 28 Jun 1–Dec 31 | Passage northern goshawk | — | Statewide except all Units south of the Gila River |
Hunt numbers, dates, legal wildlife and permits from the fall 2026 Commission Orders, the spring 2027 booklet and the 2026 pronghorn and elk booklet; draw rules on pages 22-23; checked November 7, 2026.
Last season in Unit 3A
The 2025 AZGFD summaries show 13 drawn hunts that included Unit 3A. The biggest take was elk: 274 from 625 hunters across 8 hunts.
Read totals for multi-unit hunts with care: only the last column is specific to this unit.
Treat the elk lines as preliminary 2025 results.
| Species | Hunt | Units | Hunters | Taken | Success | This unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer (draw) | 1003 | 3A and 3C | 54 | 45 | 83% | 3 of 12 |
| Deer (draw) | 1004 | 3A and 3C | 7 | 7 | 100% | 1 of 3 |
| Deer (draw) | 1199 | 3A and 3C | 17 | 7 | 41% | 0 of 7 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3127 | 3A and 3C | 62 | 28 | 45% | 4 of 18 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3171 | 3A and 3C | 28 | 6 | 21% | 0 of 4 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3002 | 3A and 3C | 13 | 12 | 92% | 1 of 5 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3012 | 3A and 3C | 183 | 60 | 33% | 12 of 63 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3036 | 3A and 3C | 158 | 70 | 44% | 14 of 56 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3064 | 3A and 3C | 142 | 74 | 52% | 14 of 59 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3091 | 3A (Zeniff Hunt Area) and 4B (Dry Lake Hunt Area | 29 | 17 | 59% | 2 of 14 |
| Elk (preliminary) | 3096 | 3A and 3C | 10 | 7 | 70% | 0 of 3 |
| Pronghorn | 2004 | 3A | 5 | 5 | 100% | Single unit |
| Pronghorn | 2039 | 3A | 5 | 2 | 40% | Single unit |
- For lions, the 2025 summary gives zone H 6 hunter harvest; zones are defined each season.
AZGFD 2025 harvest summaries: 2025 deer, 2025 elk (preliminary), 2025 mountain lion, 2025 pronghorn; checked November 7, 2026.
Unit 3A wildlife areas and forests
3 land records cross into Unit 3A, 0 of them wildlife areas under R12-4-802. Also inside: Arizona State Trust Land and Bureau of Land Management Arizona public lands.
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
BLM Safford Field Office
Black Mesa Ranger District (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests)
Land records and unit overlaps from AZGFD, USFS, BLM, FWS and NPS layers (see each land page); State Trust Land needs a valid hunting license under the license rules; checked November 7, 2026.
Towns and units near Unit 3A
No town on our list is inside Unit 3A. Within 10 miles: Holbrook and Heber-Overgaard.
- Navajo
- Navajo
Units that share a county with Unit 3A, closest first:
| Unit | Shared counties | Sq mi | Hunt numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 4B | Navajo | 1,334 | 18 |
| Unit 2A | Apache, Navajo | 1,423 | 13 |
| Unit 3C | Navajo | 555 | 24 |
| Unit 4A | Navajo | 753 | 19 |
| Unit 2C | Apache | 315 | 15 |
| Unit 3B | Apache, Navajo | 579 | 24 |
| Unit 5A | Navajo | 692 | 34 |
| Unit 2B | Apache | 824 | 23 |
Towns and their units from Census places and the AZGFD unit layer; checked November 7, 2026.
When shooting light opens in Unit 3A
Arizona allows hunting in daylight hours, which the AZGFD booklet ties to its sunrise and sunset chart; ducks, geese, doves, pigeons and cranes may be shot from half an hour before sunrise.
| Date | Season marker | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight hunting | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Archery deer | 5:44 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 5:14 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 5:52 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Quail opener | 6:27 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. |
| Oct 23, 2026 | General deer and waterfowl opener | 6:33 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:25 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations (A.R.S. 17-301); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Standard Time); the AZGFD Phoenix sunrise-sunset chart; checked November 7, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Unit 3A FAQ
Is Unit 3A inside the Mexican wolf area?
Yes.
Must a deer from Unit 3A be tested for CWD?
No, testing is voluntary.
Which towns make a good base for Unit 3A?
Holbrook and Heber-Overgaard.
Are there AZGFD wildlife areas in Unit 3A?
None on our records.
Is trapping allowed in Unit 3A?
Yes, November 1 to February 28.
What did 2025 hunts in Unit 3A take?
274 elk (preliminary figures) on hunts that include it.
How many hunt permit-tags list Unit 3A in their open area?
751 permits across 11 hunts, some of them shared with neighbouring units.
How many square miles does Unit 3A take in?
772 square miles on the AZGFD layer, split Navajo 80% and Apache 20%.
What are the lion season dates for Unit 3A?
August 21, 2026 through May 31, 2027, as part of zone H.
What is open in Unit 3A on a plain hunting license?
72 season rows, mostly small game, predators and migratory birds.
Answers drawn from the AZGFD sources cited on this page; checked November 7, 2026.