All the tags here in AZ except for the archery turkey and deer, and the fall bear and lion tags are obtained through a drawing. There is no outfitter allocation or land owner vouchers here.Archery deer and turkey tags may go into the draw in the next year or two, as these hunts become more and more popular.
There are hunts such as spring bear, spring turkey archery javelina that are drawing only as well.As well as fall turkey(shotgun)hunts.
Sandhill crane and pheasants are obtained by drawing here as well. The sandhill crane hunts are a blast. Literally 1000's of birds flying over your head and you are allowed two. Its like shooting a pterodactyl lol.
Over the counter tags are for the same units statewide for the most part but have different season dates.Its not necessarily do to more animals though. It gives those of us an option when we do not draw any tags.
Loin tags are good all year long and can be hunted by calling, spot and stalk( need a good area here) and by hounds. Bear is the same. With bear and lion any weapon is allowed where as the archery turkey and deer are bow only.
The archery deer hunts start January 1st.and again around mid august and into mid September approximately. Then it opens up again in mid December. The January archery deer tag say bought Jan 2003 is good for the month of January and the august - September hunt and the December hunt. When 2004 rolls in new tags and licenses are needed.
The bear hunts (units) have quotas so when say 3 bears are taken in a unit with this quota amount then the season end in that unit. When this happens one just has to call game and fish and find out which ones are still open and go into them.
Lions are on a quota as well but some units allow for the taking of more than one lion. Some units are too rugged for hounds so calling and hiking is the only option and there is usually a large population in these units do to the ruggedness.
We also have what you'd call depredation hunts. You would send in $5.00 and the application then if its determined that there is a need then you go through a drawing process as well. You then can say yes or no to the tag. The fee structure is the same as the regular drawing. They just did this for buffalo at Raymond ranch. The buffalo have been escaping and roaming on the private ranch that I volunteer at. So the Game and fish decided that 6 bulls who wont be pushed back to Raymond ranch needed to be hunted. The elk javelina bear and deer and lion are part of these hunts as well. One application for what ever animals you are interested in and you also have to choose weapon type.
Here is the AZGF link if anyone is interested. http://www.gf.state.az.us/