For hunters planning to apply for hunt permit-tags issued through the upcoming 2026 Fall Draw for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, and sandhill crane, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is offering the following tips to make the process go smoothly:
- AZGFD Portal Accounts are a must.
- Need a Portal Account? Visit accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register and fill in the required information. Portal Accounts the only place where draw results will be posted. Family account features are available, so everyone — including youth — can view their draw results online as soon as they are available.
- Already have a Portal Account? Make sure it's up to date.Log in to your account and check that your personal information, including application history and total bonus points (bonus, loyalty, hunter education), is correct. If something seems amiss, call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Applicants must possess an Arizona hunting license, or combination hunt/fish license, that is valid both on the day they apply for the Fall Draw as well as on the last day of the application period (June 2, 2026). Licenses can be purchased online or at any AZGFD office statewide. License dealers no longer sell paper licenses, but many offer to sell licenses through the department's online purchase system. AZGFD provides a list of dealers statewide that offer online license purchases at www.azgfd.com/license/. When purchasing a license online, the license number will appear at the bottom of the customer's receipt. Don't throw it away! That license number will be required as part of the draw application process.
- Know your Customer ID. You'll need it to submit an application.
There are four ways to locate a Customer ID:- Log in to your AZGFD portal account, and click on "View Details" under "My AZGFD Dashboard."
- Check your hunting license, or combination hunt/fish license, if it was purchased online.
- Visit customerlookup.azgfd.com/ and enter your last name, birthday and email. If the account is located, AZGFD will send the Customer ID number to that email address.
- Call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Download the "Arizona E-Tag" app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Make sure to opt in to receive an electronic permit-tag in your AZGFD portal account (this is not an option selected through the draw).
Be sure to update to the most recent version of the app. The Arizona E-Tag app provides real-time delivery of licenses and big game tags purchased or drawn after the app has been downloaded. The app also provides the ability to electronically tag a harvested animal and complete the hunter questionnaire.
For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/etag. - Purchase a PointGuard product. Choosing PointGuard Plus, or the standard PointGuard, ensures that applicants can surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason, and the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated. A portal account is no longer required to purchase a PointGuard product.
- Sign up to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message. During your draw application, keep an eye out for the option to enter your cell phone number to receive your hunter questionnaire via text message.
When's the Fall Draw? AZGFD will post an announcement on its website and social media accounts when the 2026 Fall Draw opens. The deadline for the department to receive all applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives no general fund tax dollars. The majority of funding to manage more than 800 native wildlife species comes from Arizona's hunters and anglers.