Nearly ten months of open hunting, no lottery required. From late summer through the following spring, qualified hunters can pursue one of North America’s most elusive predators across most of the state.
This guide covers the current Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) rules, the confirmed 2026-27 season dates, and the practical logistics of licenses, permits, and land access — residents and non-residents alike.
What’s covered below:
- The confirmed 2026-27 season dates, bag limit, and mandatory reporting rules
- The licenses, tags, and permits you need, and what they cost (resident vs. non-resident)
- Where to hunt: public lands, private-land leases through Hunting Locator, and guided-hunt options
Quick Overview: Arizona Mountain Lion Season at a Glance
Here’s the fast-facts snapshot of Arizona’s 2026-27 mountain lion season. AZGFD governs every rule below, and the dates are confirmed for the current season.
| Species | Season Type | Start Date | End Date | Bag Limit | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Lion | General, Archery, Pursuit | Aug 22, 2026 | May 31, 2027 | 1 per calendar year | Statewide (excluding certain closed units). Nonpermit-tag required. Mandatory reporting + physical inspection within 48 hours. |
Mountain lion season is one piece of Arizona’s hunting calendar. For the full picture of what else is open throughout the year, see the Arizona hunting seasons overview.
Before you head out, make sure you’ve got these basics squared away:
- Age requirement: Residents and non-residents 10 years and older need a valid hunting license, per AZGFD.
- License + tag: A valid hunting license AND a mountain lion nonpermit-tag are both required — two separate purchases.
- Bag limit: One mountain lion per calendar year.
- Reporting: Report your harvest online within 48 hours, then present the skull and hide for physical inspection within 10 days (appointment required).
- Pursuit-only option: A pursuit-only permit lets you run dogs without harvesting — more on that below.
Arizona Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons
Arizona structures its lion season around two concurrent opportunities: a general/archery harvest season and a pursuit-only season running alongside it. Combined, they add up to nearly ten months of legal opportunity without a draw.
General & Archery Season
The confirmed 2026-27 window runs August 22, 2026 through May 31, 2027 — statewide, excluding certain closed units — with a bag limit of one lion per calendar year, per AZGFD. Hunting without hounds is legal; calling and other legal methods are permitted alongside traditional pursuit with dogs. Legal weapons per Arizona regulations include centerfire rifles, muzzleloaders, handguns, shotguns with slug or shot, bows with a 30-pound-or-greater pull, and crossbows with a minimum 125-pound draw weight.
Pursuit-Only Season
The pursuit-only season lets a hunter use dogs to pursue — but not kill or capture — a mountain lion, per AZGFD regulation R12-4-318. It coincides with the open season, giving houndsmen a legal way to train and run dogs even outside the harvest window. To participate, you need either a valid pursuit-only permit or a valid, unused mountain lion nonpermit-tag.
Understanding the Zone/Quota Closure System
Arizona doesn’t rely on a single statewide bag limit alone. It also manages harvest through geographic zones (labeled A through P), each made up of multiple Game Management Units with its own total harvest threshold. Per AZGFD: “When the number of harvested mountain lions reaches the threshold, that zone closes to the additional harvest of mountain lions at sundown the Wednesday immediately following.”
⚠️ Call before you hunt. Zones can close mid-season once their harvest threshold is met. Always confirm your zone is open before you head out — call the AZGFD hotline at 1-877-438-0447 to check zone closure status and report your harvest.
This system is easy to overlook if you’re new to lion hunting, but it’s the difference between a productive day afield and a wasted trip to a unit that closed the week before. Build the check into your routine.
Arizona Mountain Lion Licenses and Permits
Legally hunting a lion in Arizona means two separate purchases — a hunting license and a mountain lion tag — plus an optional pursuit-only permit if you want to run dogs without harvesting. Knowing the license-versus-tag distinction up front will save you a confusing trip to the license counter.
Arizona Hunting Licenses
Per AZGFD, residents and non-residents 10 years and older need a valid hunting license to hunt in Arizona. Costs break down as follows:
| Item | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| General Hunting License | $37 | $160 |
| Mountain Lion Tag (Nonpermit-Tag) | $15 | $75 |
| Pursuit-Only Permit | $20 | $100 |
Your general hunting license grants you the right to hunt in Arizona at all; the mountain lion nonpermit-tag is the species-specific authorization to actually take a lion. You need both. Licenses can be purchased online through AZGFD, and tags are available over-the-counter (OTC) from license dealers — no draw, no waiting.
Arizona Hunting Permits
The mountain lion nonpermit-tag is required to harvest a lion and is available OTC from any license dealer — no application, no draw, no waiting period. If you’d rather train or run dogs without taking a lion, the pursuit-only permit covers that instead.
Here’s the process laid out step by step:
- Buy your hunting license — resident or non-resident, purchasable online through AZGFD.
- Buy your nonpermit-tag OTC — from any authorized license dealer.
- Confirm your zone is open — call the AZGFD hotline before you head afield.
- Hunt — using any legal method and weapon within your license class.
- Report your harvest — online, within 48 hours of taking the lion.
- Submit for inspection — present the skull and hide within 10 days (appointment required).
Planning to chase more than lions this year? See how mountain lion season fits alongside Arizona’s full season calendar.
Arizona Mountain Lion: Where to Hunt
Once your paperwork is squared away, the question becomes where to hunt. Arizona gives you three main paths: public land, private leases, and guided hunts — each suited to a different kind of hunter and a different tolerance for crowds, cost, and logistics.
Best Public Lands
Prime lion country stretches across central and northern Arizona, with several regions standing out for consistent sign and huntable terrain:
- Mogollon Rim: Classic canyon-and-rim country holding solid lion populations.
- Superstition Mountains: Rugged terrain east of Phoenix known as prime ground.
- Grand Canyon border country: Remote, low-pressure northern access for hunters willing to go the extra mile.
Many of these same units see Arizona bear season overlap and javelina season, which can make for an efficient multi-species trip if your license and tags allow it.
Private Land Hunting with Hunting Locator
Public land access has real limits — crowded units, pressured lions, and, for non-residents, no local connections to point toward productive ground. You must have explicit landowner permission before entering private land in Arizona; trespassing is illegal, no exceptions. Private access changes the equation.
Leasing private land gives houndsmen room to run dogs away from pressured public units, and it gives non-residents a legal way onto quality ground without years of local relationships. Buying land outright is also an option for hunters looking to build a long-term base in lion country rather than lease season to season.
Hunting Locator connects hunters directly with Arizona landowners who are ready to lease or sell their land for hunting access. Instead of cold-calling ranchers or hoping for a referral, you can search available Arizona properties, see what’s on offer, and reach out directly — no middleman, no guesswork.
Browse Arizona lion-country leases and connect directly with landowners ready to grant access. It’s a straightforward way to secure the kind of quiet, low-pressure ground that makes a real difference on a long-season predator hunt.
Guided Hunts
For non-residents and first-time lion hunters, a guided hunt is often the fastest way to turn a bucket-list plan into a filled tag without navigating unfamiliar terrain solo. Here’s what a typical package looks like, according to the outfitter industry:
- Typical length: Arizona guided lion hunts commonly run 5–7 days within the roughly nine-month season.
- Primary method: Arizona guided lion hunts most often rely on pursuing behind a pack of hounds on foot, though electronic predator calls and snow-trailing are also part of many outfitter hunting methods.
- Access scale: Established outfitters operate across millions of acres of public and private land, with networks of ranchers and landowners alerting them to fresh lion activity.
Guided hunts typically cost more than a DIY approach, but they trade cost for convenience — logistics, land access, and local expertise are handled for you. If you’d rather keep costs down and control your own schedule, pairing a private lease with your own gear and know-how is the more budget-conscious route.
Mountain Lion Hunting Tips
Whether you’re running hounds or hunting solo, a handful of field-tested tactics separate a frustrating season from a successful one. These tips draw on the experience of Arizona lion hunters, outfitters, and gear specialists.
- Run quality hounds: Running hounds remains one of the most traditional and effective methods — a good pack picks up the trail, sorts it out in the rocks, and runs a cat until it trees or bays.
- Track your dogs with GPS collars: Many hunters rely on GPS tracking collars to keep tabs on their pack once a chase stretches out over several miles of rough country.
- Carry a predator call: Electronic predator calls are a proven method for bringing lions into range, particularly on dry ground when tracking conditions are tough.
- Invest in rugged boots: Steep, punishing climbs through Arizona canyon country demand footwear built for long days on unforgiving terrain.
- Pack for self-reliance: In remote canyon country you’re often miles from help — carry water, layers, a first-aid kit, spare batteries, and a way to call for help if things go sideways.
- Hunt legally and ethically: Never take spotted kittens or females accompanied by kittens, and stay within legal shooting hours and visibility requirements at all times.
Gear up for rugged canyon country — find boots, GPS collars, and predator calls in the Hunting Locator store.
More Resources from Hunting Locator
A curated menu of Arizona hunting resources to round out your planning, from the full lion deep-dive to leases, gear, and every other Arizona season worth knowing about.
- Complete Arizona lion hunting guide: Our full species deep-dive at complete Arizona lion hunting guide covers tactics and terrain in more detail.
- All Arizona hunting seasons: See every Arizona season in one place at all Arizona hunting seasons, so you can plan your year around overlapping opportunities.
- Arizona hunting leases: Ready to secure your own ground? Browse Arizona hunting leases and connect with landowners today.
- Shop hunting gear: Stock up on the essentials at the Hunting Locator store before your next trip afield.
- Javelina season: Learn the details of Arizona’s javelina season, a popular overlapping hunt in lion country.
- Bear season: Check out Arizona’s bear hunting season for another predator opportunity in similar terrain.
- Elk season: Explore Arizona elk hunting if you’re after the state’s premier big-game draw hunt.
- Deer season: Get the full picture on Arizona deer hunting, one of the state’s most popular seasons.
- Pronghorn season: Discover Arizona’s pronghorn hunting season for open-country speed and challenge.
- Bighorn sheep season: Read up on Arizona bighorn sheep hunting, one of the most coveted tags in the West.
- Bison season: Learn about Arizona’s unique bison hunting season opportunities.
- Upland game season: Check the schedule for Arizona upland game hunting.
- Small game season: Get details on Arizona small game hunting for year-round opportunities.
- Dove season: Plan around Arizona’s dove hunting season, a favorite early-season hunt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Arizona mountain lion season dates for 2026-27?
The confirmed 2026-27 mountain lion season runs from August 22, 2026 through May 31, 2027, statewide excluding certain closed units. The bag limit is one mountain lion per calendar year, per AZGFD.
Do I need hunter education to hunt mountain lions in Arizona?
Residents and non-residents 10 years and older need a valid hunting license to hunt in Arizona, per AZGFD. Our research doesn’t confirm a separate hunter-education mandate specific to mountain lion hunting, so check directly with AZGFD for the latest education requirements before you apply.
What’s the difference between a hunting license and a nonpermit-tag?
Both are required, and they’re separate purchases. Your hunting license authorizes you to hunt in Arizona generally, while the nonpermit-tag is the species-specific authorization needed to take a mountain lion, available over-the-counter from any license dealer, per AZGFD.
How much does a non-resident Arizona mountain lion hunt cost in licenses and tags?
A non-resident needs a $160 general hunting license plus a $75 mountain lion nonpermit-tag, for a base cost of $235. If you also want to run dogs without harvesting, a pursuit-only permit adds $100.
What is a pursuit-only permit?
A pursuit-only permit allows you to use dogs to pursue — but not kill or capture — a mountain lion, per AZGFD regulation. The pursuit-only season coincides with the open season, and you need either the permit or a valid, unused nonpermit-tag to participate. It costs $20 for residents and $100 for non-residents.
What must I do after harvesting a mountain lion in Arizona?
You must report your harvest online within 48 hours of taking the lion, then present the skull and hide with attached proof of sex for physical inspection within 10 days (appointment required). You can also call the AZGFD hotline at 1-877-438-0447 to report your harvest.
How do I know if my hunting zone is still open?
Arizona manages lion harvest through geographic zones, each with its own total harvest threshold — once a zone hits its limit, it closes to further harvest at sundown the following Wednesday. Call 1-877-438-0447 before you head out to confirm your zone is still open.
The Final Shot
Arizona’s 2026-27 mountain lion season gives you nearly ten months to plan, scout, and hunt — no draw, no waiting list, just a license, a tag, and a legal zone to hunt in. Get your paperwork sorted (license plus nonpermit-tag), confirm your zone is open by calling 1-877-438-0447, and lock in your hunting ground before opening day on August 22, 2026.
Check with AZGFD directly for the most current rules and zone status before you head afield. And when it comes to securing the ground itself, Hunting Locator connects you directly with Arizona landowners ready to lease or sell access, so you’re not stuck competing for pressured public units.
