Unit 23 youth-only antlerless elk, Oct 9–15
How many bonus points it took to draw this hunt in 2026, and your estimated chance at every point level.
614 residents applied (252 as their 1st choice, 362 as their 2nd) and 94 drew a permit (1 in 6.5 overall). Everyone with 5 or more points who put this hunt first drew. 18 permits went through the bonus pass (lowest level: 4 points). The other 76 permits were drawn at random: an estimated 5.6% chance at 0 points, rising to 21% at 3 points.
Sure draw at 5+ points
47 nonresidents applied (20 as their 1st choice, 27 as their 2nd) and 6 drew a permit (1 in 7.8 overall). Everyone with 4 or more points who put this hunt first drew. 2 permits went through the bonus pass (lowest level: 4 points). The other 4 permits were drawn at random: an estimated 5.4% chance at 0 points, rising to 20% at 3 points.
Sure draw at 4+ points
Compare every Arizona elk hunt at your point level →
Odds by bonus points
Residents
| Bonus points | Applicants | Drew | Actual odds | Estimated chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 2 | 0 | — | |
| 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 in 1.8 | |
| 5 | 11 | 6 | 1 in 1.8 | |
| 4 | 31 | 11 | 1 in 2.8 | |
| 3 | 78 | 25 | 1 in 3.1 | |
| 2 | 177 | 20 | 1 in 8.9 | |
| 1 | 162 | 17 | 1 in 9.5 | |
| 0 | 146 | 11 | 1 in 13.3 | |
| All | 614 | 94 | 1 in 6.5 |
Nonresidents
| Bonus points | Applicants | Drew | Actual odds | Estimated chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | 0 | — | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | — | |
| 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 in 5.0 | |
| 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 in 13.0 | |
| 0 | 23 | 2 | 1 in 11.5 | |
| All | 47 | 6 | 1 in 7.8 |
Why didn't everyone above the bonus cutoff draw? AZGFD counts 1st- and 2nd-choice applicants together. 11 applicants above the cutoff listed this hunt 2nd and had already drawn their 1st choice, so the green levels show 100% for anyone who puts this hunt first.
Hunt details
| Hunt number | 3072 (2026 draw; AZGFD renumbers hunts every year) |
|---|---|
| Season | Oct 9 - Oct 15, 2026 |
| Open areas | 23 |
| Legal animal | Antlerless elk |
| Permits authorized | 100 (nonresidents can get at most 10%) |
| Who can apply | Youth hunters only (see the regulations for ages) |
From AZGFD's 2026 hunt-draw booklet. Check the current regulations for boundaries, restrictions and the notes on each hunt.
Trends, 2025–2026
"Sure at" is the fewest bonus points where every applicant drew that year. Hunt numbers change every year, so earlier years are matched by unit, legal animal, weapon and season.
| Year | Applicants | Permits | Odds | Sure at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 533 | 98 | 1 in 5.4 | 5 |
| 2026 | 614 | 94 | 1 in 6.5 | 5 |
Points for a sure draw: 5 in 2025, 5 in 2026. The bar has held steady at about 5 points. Applicants rose 15% since 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Permits | Odds | Sure at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | 2 | 1 in 14.0 | 4 |
| 2026 | 47 | 6 | 1 in 7.8 | 4 |
Points for a sure draw: 4 in 2025, 4 in 2026. The bar has held steady at about 4 points. Applicants rose 68% since 2025.
How this draw works
Arizona gives 20% of each hunt's permits to the applicants with the most bonus points (the "bonus pass"), checking 1st and 2nd choices. Everyone left is then drawn at random for their 1st and 2nd choices, and each bonus point gives you one extra random number; your best number is the one used. 3rd to 5th choices only get what's left. Nonresidents can get at most 10% of a hunt's permits. Drawing a permit resets your points for that species to zero. AZGFD's draw information.
About the numbers. AZGFD's Bonus Point Report counts permits for 1st- and 2nd-choice applicants together, so "applicants" here means everyone who listed this hunt as a 1st or 2nd choice, and "drew" means permits issued in the bonus pass and the 1st/2nd-choice pass. The estimated chance applies the draw's own rules to this year's applicants; it's an estimate, not a promise. How we check and estimate.
Other hunts in Unit 23
- Antlerless elk, Oct 16–22 3060 · 1,030 applicants
- Antlerless elk, Dec 4–10 3061 · 741 applicants
- Antlerless elk, Nov 13–26, archery 3187 · 70 applicants
- Bull elk, Nov 27–Dec 3 3030 · 2,993 applicants
- Bull elk, Nov 13–26, archery 3166 · 356 applicants