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Arizona Deer and Sheep – Deadline Alert! Application Deadline – June 9

Tony Foster
|  
  • Tony Foster
Species: Deer, Sheep
Location: Arizona

With the June 9th draw deadline fast approaching for Arizona’s sheep and deer tags, sportsmen have some decisions to make. Here are just a few ideas to get the ball rolling. The WTA TAGS Consultants are standing by to help you dial in on an application strategy.

Mule Deer

When most members of the hunting community hear terms like “The Strip” and “Kaibab” immediately thoughts turn to the monster mule deer bucks that roam these famous Arizona units. If you are lucky enough to draw any of these hunts you will be hunting in great habitat with the genetics to produce incredible bucks. With the moisture they have received the past two years everyone should have their name in the draw as the quality of animals should be spectacular.

Coues Deer

Even though mule deer receive the most attention within the state one must not overlook the opportunity that the Coues whitetail deer will provide. Arizona has quality Coues deer that will rival Old Mexico and you have the luxury of hunting in the states without having to worry about international travel. There are numerous units that produce great deer hunting with multiple seasons to cover almost anyone’s schedule or weapon preference. Furthermore, drawing odds for Coues deer in Arizona are reasonable in comparison to Arizona’s famous mule deer units mentioned above. If you are interested in chasing the “Grey Ghosts” of Arizona please give us a call and we can help decide the best option for you.

Youth Deer

Arizona does offer incredible “Youth Only” deer tags with much better drawing odds. These tags are for some of the very best units in the state and they often offer both species of deer for kids to choose from. Remember WTA TAGS offers free application serves for kids through their 18th year.  

Bighorn Sheep

For the sheep hunters out there, if Arizona is not on your radar it should be – particularly for Desert bighorn. Arizona only lags behind Nevada in allocating the most Desert sheep tags available to non-residents. There are multiple units to choose from allowing a hunter to find a hunt to best fit their needs. If a Desert bighorn is on your bucket list than Arizona is a “must apply” state for you. Arizona also issues non-resident Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep tags through the draw as well. The quality of both species is excellent and with two valid choices on each application there are multiple application strategies you could take.  We would be happy to discuss any of these with you, so please give one our TAGS Consultants a call and we can walk you through the process.

Draw System:  Arizona utilizes a “bonus point” structure that issues a bonus point to unsuccessful applicants each year they apply in the draw. Applicants that have bonus points will have their name entered that many times plus one for this year’s application. Remember a bonus system gives everyone a chance. We have drawn many awesome tags over the years to those applicants with minimal points. Somebody has to get lucky … it may as well be you!

Again, with the Arizona draw deadline looming (June 9th), please give our office, located in Sidney, NE a call today. Ask to speak to a TAGS Consultant. It could be one of the best calls you ever make. You and your Consultant can discuss an application strategy that meet your needs. We can be reached Monday – Friday 8AM-5PM MST – 1-800-755-TAGS(8247).

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Estate Hunting: A Closer Look at a Misunderstood Hunting Option

Estate hunting, often referred to as high fence hunting, is one of the most misunderstood segments of the modern hunting landscape. The term can carry strong assumptions, but those assumptions rarely reflect the reality of what these hunts actually involve.

At its core, estate hunting offers hunters access to large, privately managed properties where wildlife is carefully stewarded, and hunting opportunities are predictable, efficient, and highly successful. These hunts are not intended to replace traditional public-land or limited-entry experiences. They are meant to provide an alternative option for hunters with specific goals, time constraints, or physical considerations.

Understanding estate hunting begins with recognizing how the properties operate and what the experience looks like on the ground.

What Defines an Estate Hunt?​

Estate hunts take place on privately owned ranches or preserves enclosed by a perimeter fence. These properties can range from several thousand acres to well over 100,000 acres, depending on location, species, and management model.

Within these boundaries, wildlife populations are actively managed year-round. Landowners and outfitters focus on habitat improvement, water development, herd health, genetics, and balanced harvest rates. The result is a stable wildlife population with a strong age structure and consistent hunting opportunity.

Because animals remain on the property, outfitters can offer hunts with a very high harvest probability. In many cases, hunters can pursue specific age classes, horn characteristics, or species that would otherwise require years of applying or limited-entry permits.

What the Experience Is Actually Like

One of the most common misconceptions about estate hunting is that animals are easily located and harvested quickly in a confined space. In reality, many estate properties are vast, and hunters may never see the perimeter fence during their hunt.

These ranches often feature diverse terrain of rolling hills, timber, brush country, open plains, canyons, and river bottoms, allowing animals to behave naturally. Hunters glass, stalk, track, and pass animals just as they would on large private ranches or expansive Western properties.

Once on the ground, the hunt feels far more like a traditional spot-and-stalk or guided private land experience than what many imagine when they hear the term “high fence.”

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