1. A. For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions apply:

   “Companion tag” means a restricted nonpermit-tag valid for a supplemental hunt prescribed by Commission Order that exactly matches the season dates and open areas of another big game hunt, for which a hunt number is assigned and hunt permit-tags are issued through the computer draw.

   “Emergency season” means a season established for reasons constituting an immediate threat to the health, safety or management of wildlife or its habitat, or public health or safety.

   “Management objectives” means goals, recommendations, or guidelines contained in Department or Commission-approved wildlife management plans, which include hunt guidelines, operational plans, or hunt recommendations.

   “Hunter pool” means all persons who have submitted an application for a supplemental hunt.

   “Restricted nonpermit-tag” means a permit limited to a season for a supplemental hunt established by the Commission for the following purposes:

   Take of depredating wildlife as authorized under A.R.S. § 17-239;

   Take of wildlife under an Emergency Season; or

   Take of wildlife under a population management hunt if the Commission has prescribed nonpermit-tags by Commission Order for the purpose of meeting management objectives because regular seasons are not, have not been, or will not be sufficient or effective to achieve management objectives.

2. B. The Commission shall, by Commission Order, open a season or seasons and prescribe a maximum number of restricted nonpermit-tags to be made available under this Section.

3. C. The Department shall implement a population management hunt under the open season or seasons established under subsection (B) if the Department determines the:

   1. 1. Regular seasons have not met or will not meet management objectives;
   2. 2. Take of wildlife is necessary to meet management objectives; and
   3. 3. Issuance of a specific number of restricted nonpermit-tags is likely to meet management objectives.

4. D. To implement a population management hunt established by Commission Order, the Department shall:

   1. 1. Select season dates, within the range of dates listed in the Commission Order;
   2. 2. Select specific hunt areas, within the range of hunt areas listed in the Commission Order;
   3. 3. Select the legal wildlife that may be taken from the list of legal wildlife identified in the Commission Order;

   4. 4. Determine the number of restricted nonpermit-tags that will be issued from the maximum number of tags authorized in the Commission Order.

      1. a. The Department shall not issue more restricted nonpermit-tags than the maximum number prescribed by Commission Order.
      2. b. A restricted nonpermit-tag is valid only for the supplemental hunt for which it is issued.
5. E. The provisions of R12-4-104, R12-4-107, R12-4-114, and R12-4-609 do not apply to a supplemental hunt.
6. F. If the Department anticipates the normal fee structure will not generate adequate participation, then the Department may reduce restricted nonpermit-tag fees up to 75%, as authorized under A.R.S. § 17-239(D).

7. G. An applicant for a supplemental hunt shall apply at the times, locations, and in the manner and method established by the hunt permit-tag application schedule published by the Department and available at any Department office, on the Department’s website, or a license dealer. A supplemental hunt application submitted in accordance with this Section does not invalidate any other application submitted by the person for a hunt permit-tag.

   1. 1. The Department shall not accept a group application, as defined under R12-4-104, for a restricted nonpermit-tag.
   2. 2. An applicant shall not apply for or obtain a restricted nonpermit-tag to take wildlife in excess of the bag limit established by Commission Order.
   3. 3. The issuance of a restricted nonpermit-tag does not authorize a person to exceed the bag limit established by Commission Order.

8. H. To participate in a supplemental hunt, a person shall:

   1. 1. Obtain a restricted nonpermit-tag as prescribed under this Section, and
   2. 2. Possess a valid hunting license. If the applicant does not possess a valid license or the license will expire before the supplemental hunt, the applicant shall purchase an appropriate license.

9. I. The Department or its authorized agent shall maintain a hunter pool for supplemental hunts other than companion tag hunts.

   1. 1. The Department shall purge and renew the hunter pool on an annual basis.

   2. 2. An applicant for a restricted nonpermit-tag under this subsection shall submit a hunt permit-tag application to the Department for each desired species. The application is available at any Department office, an authorized agent, or on the Department’s website. The applicant shall provide all of the following information on the application:

      1. a. The applicant’s:

         1. i. Name;
         2. ii. Department identification number, when applicable;
         3. iii. Mailing address;
         4. iv. Number of years of residency immediately preceding application;
         5. v. Date of birth;
         6. vi. Social Security Number, as required under A.R.S. §§ 25-320(P) and 25-502(K); and
         7. vii. Daytime and evening telephone numbers,
      2. b. The species that the applicant would like to hunt, if selected, and
      3. c. The applicant’s hunting license number.
   3. 3. In addition to the requirements established under subsection (I)(2), at the time of application the applicant shall submit the application fee required under R12-4-102. A separate application and application fee is required for each species the applicant submits an application for.

   4. 4. When issuing a restricted nonpermit-tag, the Department or its authorized agent shall randomly select applicants from the hunter pool.

      1. a. The Department or its authorized agent shall attempt to contact each randomly-selected applicant at least three times within a 24-hour period.
      2. b. If an applicant cannot be contacted or is unable to participate in the supplemental hunt, the Department or its authorized agent shall return the application to the hunter pool and draw another application.
      3. c. In compliance with subsection (D)(4), the Department or its authorized agent shall select no more applications after the number of restricted nonpermit-tags establish by Commission Order are issued.

   5. 5. The Department shall reserve a restricted nonpermit-tag for an applicant only for the period specified by the Department when contact is made with the applicant. If an applicant fails to purchase the nonpermit-tag within the specified period, the Department or its authorized agent shall:

      1. a. Remove the person’s application from the hunter pool, and
      2. b. Offer that restricted nonpermit-tag to another person whose application is drawn from the hunter pool as established under this Section.

   6. 6. A person who participates in a supplemental hunt through the hunter pool shall be removed from the supplemental hunter pool for the genus for which the person participated. A hunter pool applicant who is selected and who wishes to participate in a supplemental hunt shall submit the following to the Department to obtain a restricted nonpermit-tag:

      1. a. The fee for the tag as established under R12-4-102 or subsection (F) if the fee has been reduced, and

      2. b. The applicant’s hunting license number. The applicant shall possess an appropriate license that is valid at the time of the supplemental hunt. The applicant shall purchase a license at the time of application when:

         1. i. The applicant does not possess a valid license, or
         2. ii. The applicant’s license will expire before the supplemental hunt.
   7. 7. A person who participates in a supplemental hunt shall not reapply for the hunter pool for that genus until the hunter pool is renewed.

10. J. The Department shall only make a companion tag available to a person who possesses a matching hunt permit-tag and not a person from the hunter pool. Authorization to issue a companion tag occurs when the Commission establishes a hunt in Commission Order under subsection (B).

    1. 1. The requirements of subsection (D) are not applicable to a companion tag issued under this subsection.

    2. 2. To obtain a companion tag under this subsection, an applicant shall submit a hunt permit-tag application to the Department. The application is available at any Department office and on the Department’s website. The applicant shall provide all of the following information on the application, the applicant’s:

       1. a. Name,
       2. b. Mailing address,
       3. c. Department identification number, and
       4. d. Hunt permit-tag number, to include the hunt number and permit number, corresponding with the season dates and open areas of the supplemental hunt.

    3. 3. In addition to the requirements established under subsection (J)(2), at the time of application the applicant shall:

       1. a. Provide verification that the applicant lawfully obtained the hunt permit-tag for the hunt described under this subsection by presenting the hunt permit-tag to a Department office for verification, and
       2. b. Submit all applicable fees required under R12-4-102.

Historical Note

Adopted effective June 13, 1977 (Supp. 77-3). Former Section R12-4-14 renumbered as Section R12-4-115 without change effective August 13, 1981 (Supp. 81-4). Former Section R12-4-115 renumbered as Section R12-4-607 without change effective December 22, 1987 (Supp. 87-4). New Section R12-4-115 adopted effective March 1, 1991; filed February 28, 1991 (Supp. 91-1). Amended effective January 1, 1993; filed December 18, 1992 (Supp. 92-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 610, effective April 6, 2003 (Supp. 03-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 991, effective April 2, 2005; amended by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 1177, effective May 2, 2005 (Supp. 05-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 291, effective March 11, 2006 (Supp. 06-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 3225, effective January 1, 2014 (Supp. 13-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 3025, effective January 2, 2016 (Supp. 15-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 27 A.A.R. 283, effective July 1, 2021 (Supp. 21-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 1442 (May 2, 2025), effective June 9, 2025 (Supp. 25-2).