Arizona › Species › Black-footed Ferret
Protected, no season
Black-footed Ferret in Arizona: No Hunting Season
No 2026-27 season for black-footed ferrets in Arizona: the AZGFD rule, where they may turn up, penalties and the open seasons that come closest.
Photo: Russ (CC BY 2.0)
The Arizona status of black-footed ferrets
Black-footed ferrets stay closed to hunting and trapping in Arizona; the table shows the status, the empty bag and the rule.
| Item | AZGFD text |
|---|---|
| Status | Excluded from all seasons. |
| Bag | None. |
| Methods | No season. |
| Rule | Excluded from the year-round season on other mammals (Commission Order 14); no season. |
From 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations and Laws and Rules Book (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
Where hunters may meet black-footed ferrets
No unit list exists for black-footed ferrets in the regulations. Hunters meet them while after weasels, so the rows for that season are the practical guide.
From 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
The open season closest to black-footed ferrets
Arizona opens weasels, not black-footed ferrets. The rows show exactly what the weasel season allows.
| Hunt | Legal animal | Tag | Dates | Units | Permits or limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General predators | Bobcat, foxes, ringtail, weasel and badger | License | Aug 1–Mar 31, 2027 | Statewide
| – | |
| Shotgun shot predators | Raccoon, bobcat, foxes, ringtail, weasel and badger | License | Aug 1–Mar 31, 2027 | Statewide | – | |
| Trapping | Coyote, bobcat, foxes, ringtail, badger, raccoon, skunks, and weasels | Trapping | Nov 1–Feb 28, 2027 | Statewide
| – |
From 2026-27 hunting regulations and trapping leaflet (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
Black-footed Ferret violations and penalties
What a court and the Commission can do after unlawful take of black-footed ferrets, from A.R.S. Title 17.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| General violation | Violating Title 17 or a Commission rule or order is a class 2 misdemeanor unless another penalty applies (A.R.S. 17-309(B)): up to 4 months and $750. |
| Civil penalties (statutory minimums) | Commission may recover at least: turkey or javelina $500; bear, lion, pronghorn or deer $1,500; elk or eagle $2,500; predatory, fur-bearing or nongame animal $250; small game or aquatic wildlife $50; bighorn sheep, bison or endangered species $8,000. Doubled for a second and tripled for a third violation. |
| License revocation | Commission may revoke or suspend hunting privileges up to 5 years for unlawful take or possession, careless use of firearms causing injury, damage to livestock or property, littering, letting someone use your big game tag, trespass or closed-area violations, license fraud, waste, aircraft use or guiding without a license; up to 10 years for a second and longer or permanently for a third offense. |
| Selling unlawfully taken wildlife | Knowingly selling or bartering unlawfully taken big game or wildlife taken in closed season, assisting unlawful take of big game for gain, or taking wildlife while permanently revoked is a class 6 felony (fines up to $150,000). |
From A.R.S. Title 17 and violations and civil values (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
Who to call about black-footed ferrets
For black-footed ferrets, use the AZGFD hotline. Minimum $500 for pronghorn, eagles, bear, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, javelina, lion, turkey or listed species; $50-$150 for other wildlife; up to $20,000 in some cases. Hotline 1-800-352-0700.
From Operation Game Thief (Arizona Game and Fish Department), checked November 7, 2026.
Black-footed Ferret FAQ
Is there a reward for reporting black-footed ferrets cases?
Minimum $500 for pronghorn, eagles, bear, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, javelina, lion, turkey or listed species; $50-$150 for other wildlife; up to $20,000 in some cases. Hotline 1-800-352-0700.
Will a trapping license cover black-footed ferrets?
No. The AZGFD species list gives no bag and no method for black-footed ferrets.
Should hunters wear orange near black-footed ferrets?
No hunter orange or blaze requirement appears in the 2026-27 regulations, the Commission rules (R12-4) or A.R.S. Title 17 (the only orange in the rule book is orange paint for posting private land, A.R.S. 17-304).
Do tribes set their own rules?
Tribal lands comprise 28 percent of Arizona. Individual tribal governments establish hunting and fishing regulations for their reservations; hunting there, if allowed, is controlled by each tribe (contact the tribe). Under R12-4-117 a state license, permit or tag is not required to hunt or fish on a reservation.
What is the legal basis for the black-footed ferret closure?
AZGFD publications: the 2026-27 regulations and the Laws and Rules Book, checked November 7, 2026.
Is there an Arizona season on black-footed ferrets?
No. Excluded from all seasons. Excluded from the year-round season on other mammals (Commission Order 14); no season.
What fines apply to black-footed ferrets in Arizona?
Commission may recover at least: turkey or javelina $500; bear, lion, pronghorn or deer $1,500; elk or eagle $2,500; predatory, fur-bearing or nongame animal $250; small game or aquatic wildlife $50; bighorn sheep, bison or endangered species $8,000. Doubled for a second and tripled for a third violation. Revocation of hunting privileges can follow.
What can I hunt instead of black-footed ferrets?
Try weasels, which AZGFD does open (3 rows).
Other photos on this page: Bureau of Land Management Arizona (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public domain); Bureau of Land Management (CC BY 2.0).