First time hunting in AZ

Slimjpk53 · May 26, 2017

Hey everyone,

This will be the first year I'll be hunting in Arizona if I'm lucky enough to get drawn a deer tag in unit 7. I've looked all over the DNR website but haven't been able to find an answer.

Are you allowed to bring out 2 LEGAL hunting guns to your stand with you? I know in Illinois you could bring out a shotgun and legal handgun if you wanted. Anyone know the answer to this as the website only states if you bring out an NON-LEGAL gun you can't hunt with it.

Thanks

mevertsen · May 26, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-26-17 AT 01:29PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-26-17 AT 01:28?PM (MST)

I think the part you are reading has to do with archery and muzzle loader tags.

For example, Nevada allows you to posses a handgun during those seasons, but there are restrictions and you can't hunt with it.

Another might be possessing too small of a cartridge with you.

If you have a deer tag and you have your 30-06. But you have a week off and want to hunt coyotes so you bring a .223, but the minimum requirement for deer is .243. You can't hunt deer with the .223 even though it would be legal to hunt coyotes with it. Or you bring your shotgun for birds but you can't use bird shot for deer.

Bring your deer gun. And a spare if you can. I lost my rear sight on my muzzle loader the first day of a hunt last year. Glad I had a spare gun.

Also keep in mind that you might be able to hunt birds as well.

I might bring 4 guns with me deer hunting depending on the month.

Deer rifle
Back up rifle
Shotgun for birds
22 for the kids to hunt rabbits
Maybe a varmint gun? Could pass as back up deer rifle if legal.

Bottom line is bring everything you legally can and are willing to hunt. And bring a spare gun for your main species if you can.

Out west, you will mess something up eventually. Not bad if you are hunting a local unit. Very bad if travelling from Illinois.

Slimjpk53 · May 26, 2017

Thanks, I live in Phoenix now and don't want to actually go back to hunt in Illinois, like I did last year because I haven't lived here long enough.

I was planning on bringing out my 30.06 and my .44 mag. I'm actually more comfortable with the .44 due to Illinois not allowing you to use rifle. But I didn't want a deer sneaking up behind me and not being able to get a good shot off with my rifle due to how close it was. Thanks for the info.