deer; taking; landowner permits

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify a limit on the total number of landowner permits issued compared to general hunting tags.

Deer Hunting Permits for Landowners

This bill requires the Arizona Game and Fish Department to issue permits for landowners to hunt deer on their private property, with limits set by the department.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the AZGFD to give out special hunting permits to landowners who want to hunt deer on their private land.
• AZGFD can only give these permits if they think it will help manage wildlife and reduce conflicts between people and animals.
• A person may not transfer a landowner permit to any other person.

Who It Names or Affects

• Landowners who want to hunt deer on their private land
• Arizona Game and Fish Department

Terms To Know

AZGFD

Arizona Game and Fish Department, the agency that manages wildlife in Arizona.

landowner permit

A special hunting permit given to landowners for deer hunting on their private property.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a landowner loses or damages their permit.
• It is unclear how the AZGFD will decide which landowners get these permits.
• There are no details about penalties for breaking this law.

Official Summary Text

HB2147 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House
: LARA DP 5-3-0-0

HB
2147
: deer; taking; landowner permits

Sponsor:
Representative Griffin, LD 19

Caucus
& COW

Overview

Requires
the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to issue landowner permits for
deer hunting on private lands and outlines exemptions.

History

The AZGFD manages wildlife populations in Arizona through the
administration of hunting and fishing license programs, enforcement actions for
the unlawful taking of game and wildlife habitat protection and development. A
five-member commission appointed by the Governor oversees the operations of AZGFD
(
A.R.S. ��
17-201 et. seq.
).

Title 17,
Chapter 3
(Taking and Handling of Wildlife) outlines
statutes regulating hunting and transporting hunted animals. A person in this
state cannot take wildlife without a valid license or a commission-approved
proof of purchase. A person must carry the license or proof of purchase and
produce it on request to any game ranger, wildlife manager or peace officer (
A.R.S. � 17-331
).

Provisions

1.

Requires AZGFD
to issue a landowner permit for the taking of deer on private lands. (Sec. 1)

2.

Directs AZGFD
to issue a landowner permit if the Arizona Game and Fish Commission determines
the permit is necessary to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife and to
provide sport hunting opportunities consistent with AZGFD rules. (Sec. 1)

3.

Specifies AZGFD
may not issue a landowner permit for the taking of deer if the total number of
permits issued for deer exceeds 10% of the total number of tags issued for deer
through the general lottery draw during the calendar year. (Sec. 1)

4.

5.

6.

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Initials CW��������������������� HB
2147

8.

2/13/2026� Page 0 Caucus
& COW

9.

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Current Bill Text

HB2147 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

deer; taking;
landowner permits

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2147

AN
ACT

Amending title 17, chapter 3, ARTICLE 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 17-321; RELATING to the taking of
wildlife.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section
1.
1. Title
17, chapter 3, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
section 17-321, to read:

START_STATUTE
17-321.

Private lands; taking deer; landowner permits

A. The department shall issue a
landowner permit for the taking of deer on private lands.

B. The department shall issue a
landowner permit if the commission determines that the permit is necessary
FOR wildlife population management or to reduce conflicts between
humans and wildlife
or BETWEEN property and wildlife.

C. A person may not transfer a
landowner permit to any other person.
END_STATUTE