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Access programs
Arizona Hunting Access Programs
State Trust Land, the AZGFD Landowner Compact and the wildlife area rules that open ground to licensed hunters.
Photo: Bill Morrow (CC BY 2.0)
State Trust Land and hunting in Arizona
The Arizona State Land Department manages over 9 million acres of State Trust Land, scattered sections across the state; the AZGFD land ownership layer measures 9,297,651 GIS acres. A permit or lease and a fee are normally required, but licensed hunters actively pursuing game in season are the stated exception, and AZGFD rule R12-4-110(I) treats a licensed hunter lawfully taking wildlife as a permittee for trespass purposes. Other recreation takes a Recreational Permit, $15 for an individual or $20 for a family, with camping limited to 14 cumulative days a year. Land leased for agriculture, mining, commercial or military purposes is not open to recreation.
| County | State Trust Land (GIS acres) | All public land (GIS acres) |
|---|---|---|
| Apache County | 670,485 | 1,265,961 |
| Cochise County | 1,339,298 | 2,209,083 |
| Coconino County | 1,143,067 | 5,114,775 |
| Gila County | 30,883 | 1,790,153 |
| Graham County | 485,779 | 1,564,851 |
| Greenlee County | 171,642 | 1,072,043 |
| La Paz County | 253,365 | 2,017,912 |
| Maricopa County | 618,968 | 2,978,287 |
| Mohave County | 574,695 | 6,104,873 |
| Navajo County | 374,901 | 952,604 |
| Pima County | 824,803 | 2,106,222 |
| Pinal County | 1,176,048 | 1,790,530 |
| Santa Cruz County | 59,713 | 479,840 |
| Yavapai County | 1,271,614 | 3,872,150 |
| Yuma County | 185,082 | 1,619,542 |
State Land Department FAQ; county GIS acres from counties.json; checked November 7, 2026.
The AZGFD Landowner Compact
The Landowner Compact recognizes landowners who already work with AZGFD to provide access. Each participating ranch posts its own rules on its access page, and AZGFD asks hunters to follow them. A first violation brings a seven-year loss of access to all Landowner Compact ranches and a second a lifetime loss; AZGFD can cite trespassers. The program page gives no ranch count or acreage.
The 2026-27 regulations give examples of Compact agreements and the units they sit in: Landowner Compact Agreements open private ranches (for example Boquillas-Diamond A and Perrin ranches in Unit 10, Fort Rock Ranch in 18A/18B, Bar T Bar and Flying M in 5A/5B, Walking Cane Ranch in Unit 7) with ranch passes or rules.
Private land that is not in the program follows the posting rule in A.R.S. 17-304: Landowners may close land to hunting with signs (8×11 in., 1 in. letters) at access points, corners and every 1/4 mile, or orange-painted posts between signs; entry to take wildlife is criminal trespass only where signs say "no trespassing" or after a request to leave.
AZGFD Landowner Compact page; checked November 7, 2026.
Wildlife areas as an access program
Wildlife areas are AZGFD's own program: the Commission lists them in R12-4-802 with property-by-property restrictions, and R12-4-801 lets the Department post temporary closures of up to 90 days. 38 wildlife areas are open to hunting in season; the wildlife areas guide groups them by AZGFD region.
Asked about Arizona hunting access programs
Do hunters need a State Trust Land Recreational Permit?
Not while actively hunting in season with a valid license; other recreation needs the permit.
How many ranches are in the Landowner Compact?
AZGFD does not publish a ranch count or acreage on the program page.
Can I drive off road on State Trust Land to retrieve game?
R12-5-533(D) lets licensed hunters drive on existing roads, or cross-country only to pick up legally killed big game without damaging croplands, improvements or cultural sites.