Unit 3B bull elk, archery, Sep 11–24
How many bonus points it took to draw this hunt in 2026, and your estimated chance at every point level.
816 residents applied (395 as their 1st choice, 421 as their 2nd) and 68 drew a permit (1 in 12.0 overall). Everyone with 13 or more points who put this hunt first drew. 12 permits went through the bonus pass (lowest level: 12 points). The other 56 permits were drawn at random: an estimated 1.4% chance at 0 points, rising to 15% at 11 points.
Sure draw at 13+ points
235 nonresidents applied (83 as their 1st choice, 152 as their 2nd) and 7 drew a permit (1 in 33.6 overall). Everyone with 17 or more points who put this hunt first drew. 3 permits went through the bonus pass (lowest level: 16 points). The other 4 permits were drawn at random: an estimated <1% chance at 0 points, rising to 4.2% at 15 points.
Sure draw at 17+ points
Compare every Arizona elk hunt at your point level →
Odds by bonus points
Residents
| Bonus points | Applicants | Drew | Actual odds | Estimated chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 12 | 10 | 8 | 1 in 1.3 | |
| 11 | 18 | 6 | 1 in 3.0 | |
| 10 | 18 | 3 | 1 in 6.0 | |
| 9 | 32 | 6 | 1 in 5.3 | |
| 8 | 52 | 3 | 1 in 17.3 | |
| 7 | 51 | 5 | 1 in 10.2 | |
| 6 | 67 | 1 | 1 in 67.0 | |
| 5 | 94 | 6 | 1 in 15.7 | |
| 4 | 117 | 10 | 1 in 11.7 | |
| 3 | 127 | 6 | 1 in 21.2 | |
| 2 | 116 | 8 | 1 in 14.5 | |
| 1 | 65 | 2 | 1 in 32.5 | |
| 0 | 45 | 0 | — | |
| All | 816 | 68 | 1 in 12.0 |
Nonresidents
| Bonus points | Applicants | Drew | Actual odds | Estimated chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 in 4.0 | |
| 15 | 3 | 0 | — | |
| 14 | 3 | 0 | — | |
| 13 | 10 | 1 | 1 in 10.0 | |
| 12 | 8 | 0 | — | |
| 11 | 7 | 0 | — | |
| 10 | 13 | 2 | 1 in 6.5 | |
| 9 | 7 | 0 | — | |
| 8 | 20 | 0 | — | |
| 7 | 22 | 0 | — | |
| 6 | 10 | 0 | — | |
| 5 | 18 | 0 | — | |
| 4 | 8 | 0 | — | |
| 3 | 20 | 0 | — | |
| 2 | 27 | 1 | 1 in 27.0 | |
| 1 | 31 | 0 | — | |
| 0 | 22 | 0 | — | |
| All | 235 | 7 | 1 in 33.6 |
Hunt details
| Hunt number | 3128 (2026 draw; AZGFD renumbers hunts every year) |
|---|---|
| Season | Sep 11 - Sep 24, 2026 |
| Open areas | 3B |
| Legal animal | Bull elk |
| Permits authorized | 75 (nonresidents can get at most 10%) |
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 | 918 | 68 | 1 in 13.5 | 12 |
| 2026 | 816 | 68 | 1 in 12.0 | 13 |
Points for a sure draw: 12 in 2025, 13 in 2026. The bar is rising at least one point a year, as fast as applicants earn points. Applicants fell 11% since 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Permits | Odds | Sure at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 243 | 7 | 1 in 34.7 | 18 |
| 2026 | 235 | 7 | 1 in 33.6 | 17 |
Points for a sure draw: 18 in 2025, 17 in 2026. The bar has been falling.
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 3B
- Antlerless elk, Oct 16–22, muzzleloader 3108 · 581 applicants
- Antlerless elk, Dec 11–31, muzzleloader 3109 · 691 applicants
- Antlerless elk, Sep 11–24, archery 3172 · 106 applicants
- Bull elk, Sep 25–Oct 1, muzzleloader 3101 · 1,189 applicants
- Bull elk, Nov 27–Dec 3, muzzleloader 3105 · 611 applicants
- Buck pronghorn, Sep 4–13, muzzleloader 2030 · 679 applicants
- Buck pronghorn, Aug 21–Sep 3, archery 2040 · 287 applicants