Is It Illegal to Feed Deer in Arizona? State Laws, Fines, and What AZGFD Says

Arizona is home to both mule deer and Coues white-tailed deer, and if you live near desert foothills, a mountain community, or the urban-wildland interface, you have probably seen them wandering through your yard. The impulse to toss out some corn or leave a pile of grain can feel like a kindness, but in Arizona, that act can carry a real legal consequence depending on where you live.

Understanding the state’s wildlife feeding laws — and how local ordinances layer on top of them — helps you stay on the right side of the law while still appreciating the deer that pass through your property. This guide walks you through exactly what Arizona law says, where restrictions apply, what you can and cannot put out, how chronic wasting disease shapes the rules, and what happens if you are cited.

Is It Illegal to Feed Deer in Arizona?

The short answer is: yes, in much of the state. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2927, a person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly feeding, attracting, or otherwise enticing wildlife into an area. Deer are explicitly covered by this prohibition — they are not among the exempted species.

Feeding, attracting, or enticing wildlife (except birds and tree squirrels) is illegal in Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa counties. Those three counties together cover the Phoenix metro area, the Tucson metro area, and the fast-growing corridor between them — meaning the law applies to millions of Arizona residents.

The statute applies in any county with a population of more than two hundred eighty thousand persons. That population threshold is what brings Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties under the law. If you live in a smaller, more rural county, the state-level statute may not technically reach you — but that does not mean you are in the clear, because local ordinances often fill the gap.

Important Note: Even if the state statute does not apply in your county, cities, towns, and unincorporated county areas can — and do — pass their own wildlife feeding bans with separate penalties. Always check your local ordinances in addition to state law.

Arizona is also home to several deer species found across North America, and the rules described here apply to all wild deer in the state regardless of species.

Where and When Deer Feeding Is Restricted in Arizona

The geographic scope of Arizona’s deer feeding restrictions is layered: the state statute covers the most populous counties, while individual cities and counties have enacted their own ordinances that can be stricter and reach areas the state law does not.

State-Level Restrictions

Feeding, attracting, or enticing wildlife (except birds and tree squirrels) is illegal in Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa counties, with violations resulting in up to a $300 fine. Several other cities and counties in Arizona also have restrictions on feeding wildlife with varying penalties.

Local Ordinances That Go Further

Several jurisdictions have passed their own bans that extend beyond what the state statute requires:

• Sedona: The Sedona ordinance states that it is unlawful for any person within the city limits to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly feed wildlife or to attract wildlife, including bears, javelina, deer, elk, coyotes, skunks, foxes, bobcats, and/or mountain lions. A provision in the Sedona ordinance does allow the responsible use of bird feeders, provided they are at least four feet above the ground or secured in a way that makes them inaccessible to other wildlife.
• Cochise County: In the unincorporated areas of Cochise County, fines for feeding wildlife can be as much as $1,500, compared to $300 under state law.

Several other cities and counties in Arizona also have restrictions on feeding wildlife with varying penalties. Check your local city or county ordinances for more information.

Pro Tip: Contact your city or county government directly, or visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Living with Wildlife page to confirm whether a local ordinance applies to your address.

There is no seasonal window during which feeding becomes legal in Arizona. Unlike some states that permit supplemental feeding outside of hunting season, Arizona’s restrictions are year-round in the counties and cities where they apply.

What You Can and Cannot Feed Deer in Arizona

Arizona’s rules are not limited to whether you feed deer — they also govern what attractants and substances you may use, especially in the context of hunting. Understanding both dimensions matters whether you are a homeowner or a hunter.

What Is Prohibited

Under Arizona Game and Fish Commission Rule R12-4-303, using any lure, attractant, or cover scent containing any cervid (deer) urine to take wildlife is unlawful. Using edible or ingestible substances, other than water or salt/mineral products produced for the livestock industry, to aid in the taking of big game is also unlawful.

This means standard deer corn, grain-based attractants, protein pellets, and most commercially sold deer feed are off the table when it comes to hunting. The same foods placed in a yard in a covered county also violate the general wildlife feeding statute.

What Is Permitted

You cannot feed deer or any other game animal in Arizona, but you can use salt or mineral licks. Salt and mineral products produced for the livestock industry are specifically exempted from the baiting prohibition under Rule R12-4-303.

It is legal to place water in your yard for wildlife as long as it is not in conflict with county ordinances or other local regulations where you live. A shallow water dish or wildlife water feature does not constitute feeding under the state statute.

Item	Allowed?	Notes
Deer corn / grain feed	No	Prohibited in covered counties and as a hunting aid statewide
Protein pellets / commercial deer feed	No	Prohibited under R12-4-303 for hunting; also triggers general feeding ban
Cervid urine-based attractants	No	Explicitly banned statewide under R12-4-303
Salt / mineral licks	Yes	Permitted; livestock-industry mineral products are exempted
Water	Yes	Legal unless a local ordinance says otherwise
Bird feeders (seeds/nectar)	Yes (with caution)	Birds and tree squirrels are exempt; keep feeders elevated and inaccessible to deer

If you enjoy feeding birds, be aware that feeding other species of wildlife like deer can also draw predators such as mountain lions and even black bears, which are attracted to things like garbage cans put out before the day of pickup or fruit falling from trees and bird feeders, whether they have seeds or nectar. Keeping bird feeders elevated and seed off the ground reduces the chance of attracting deer and larger predators to your yard.

You can read more about different types of bird feeders and how to position them to minimize wildlife conflicts in residential settings.

Deer Feeding and CWD Regulations in Arizona

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is one of the primary reasons wildlife agencies across the country are tightening deer feeding and baiting rules. Arizona has taken a proactive stance even though the disease has not yet arrived in the state.

Arizona’s CWD Status

Chronic wasting disease has not been detected in Arizona’s deer or elk, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to do everything it can to keep it that way. Chronic wasting disease has been detected in 36 states across the country including California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. CWD remains undetected in Arizona despite confirmed cases in neighboring states, and AZGFD is encouraging hunters to bring the head of their harvested animal to any Department office statewide to test for CWD.

Why Feeding Accelerates CWD Risk

CWD is an always-fatal nervous system disease found in cervids like deer and elk. It can be transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact, contact with saliva, feces, or carcass parts of an infected animal, and even from soil that has been contaminated with the previously mentioned tissues or fluids.

Feeding stations concentrate deer in unnaturally tight groups, dramatically increasing nose-to-nose contact and the sharing of saliva on feed. This is precisely the kind of transmission pathway that CWD exploits. Even a single infected animal visiting a communal feed pile can contaminate the soil for years.

Key Insight: Because CWD prions can persist in soil long after an infected animal has left an area, a feeding site can remain a transmission risk even after you stop putting out feed.

Baiting and Carcass Import Rules

Under Arizona Game and Fish Commission Article 3, R12-4-303, edible baits and cervid urine-based attractants may not be used to take deer or elk. Normal livestock feeding and supplementation is exempted.

State law under Arizona Commission Rule R12-4-305.I prohibits the importation of cervid brains, intact skulls, or spinal columns into Arizona. Hunters returning to Arizona with harvested deer or elk from another state are urged not to illegally import cervid carcasses or parts containing brain or spinal tissue. This rule is directly aimed at preventing CWD from entering the state through hunter-harvested game.

For hunters interested in the deer species that inhabit Arizona and neighboring regions, the types of deer found across the US provides helpful context on the range and biology of mule deer and Coues white-tailed deer.

Penalties for Illegally Feeding Deer in Arizona

The consequences for feeding deer in Arizona vary depending on which law or ordinance you violate, and penalties can stack if multiple statutes apply to your situation.

State-Level Penalties

Unlawful feeding of wildlife under ARS § 13-2927 is classified as a petty offense. This petty offense can result in a fine of up to $300. You may also be cited with ARS § 13-2908 (Criminal Nuisance), which can result in an additional fine of up to $500. That means a single incident of feeding deer in a covered county could generate combined fines of up to $800.

Local Penalties

Local ordinances can be significantly harsher than the state baseline:

• Cochise County (unincorporated areas): Violating the county ordinance is considered a Class I misdemeanor, and violators can be fined up to $2,500 and/or up to six months in jail and three years of probation, or a combination of all three.
• Sedona: The ordinance provides that first offenders will receive a written warning and be given educational materials. Subsequent violations escalate from there.

Reporting Wildlife Feeding Violations

Contact Arizona Game and Fish if feeding activity in your neighborhood is causing wildlife to become bold. You can call the 24/7 Operation Game Thief confidential tip hotline at 1-800-352-0700.

Common Mistake: Many Arizona residents assume that because they live outside Maricopa, Pima, or Pinal counties, they are free to feed deer. Even in smaller counties, local ordinances may still prohibit it — and the AZGFD’s general guidance discourages the practice everywhere in the state.

Why Feeding Deer Is Discouraged Even Where It’s Legal in Arizona

Even in the rural parts of Arizona where no statute technically prohibits leaving out deer feed, the Arizona Game and Fish Department strongly discourages the practice. The reasons go beyond legal compliance and touch on the genuine welfare of the animals themselves.

Habituation and Human-Wildlife Conflict

The majority of wildlife attacks in Arizona are the result of fed wildlife becoming habituated to humans. When deer associate your yard with food, they return more frequently, stay longer, and lose their natural wariness. That same habituation makes them more vulnerable to vehicle strikes, predation, and conflicts with pets and neighbors.

Animals quickly associate access to food with humans, and once that association is formed, it is very difficult to reverse. When wildlife becomes habituated to humans and public safety is an issue, the department’s only option is lethal removal. In other words, feeding deer with good intentions can ultimately lead to their death.

Nutritional Harm

Wildlife know how and where to find the food they depend upon, which often varies by season. Wildlife may not have the enzymes to digest some ingredients not found in their natural diet. Human-provided foods do not provide the proper balance of minerals. Consuming human-provided foods can cause digestive disorders, malnutrition, and other diseases in wildlife.

Corn, in particular, can cause a dangerous condition called acidosis in deer. Their digestive systems are adapted to browse — leaves, twigs, forbs, and grasses — not high-starch grains. A sudden shift to corn-heavy feeding can kill a deer even when the food appears harmless.

Attracting Predators

Deer drawn to a feeding site also attract the animals that prey on them. Feeding deer can draw predators such as mountain lions and even black bears, which are attracted to things like garbage cans put out before the day of pickup or fruit falling from trees and bird feeders. This creates safety concerns not just for the deer, but for your household, pets, and neighbors.

Understanding the natural predator-prey dynamics of deer helps explain why artificial feeding disrupts the balance that deer populations depend on. You can learn more about the natural predators of deer and how they interact with deer behavior in the wild, as well as what animals eat deer across different ecosystems.

Better Alternatives

If you want to support deer and other wildlife on your property without running afoul of the law or harming the animals, consider these AZGFD-endorsed approaches:

1. Plant native vegetation. Native shrubs, grasses, and forbs provide natural forage that deer can safely digest and that supports the broader local ecosystem.
2. Provide water responsibly. It is legal to place water in your yard for wildlife as long as it is not in conflict with county ordinances or other local regulations. A shallow dish or small water feature is a low-risk way to support wildlife during dry months.
3. Use elevated bird feeders. If you enjoy feeding birds, keep bird seed off the ground and out of reach of other wildlife. A platform can be attached to the bottom of most feeders to catch spilled seed. This lets you enjoy backyard bird feeding without inadvertently attracting deer.
4. Secure all food sources. Garbage cans should be put out on the morning of collection and secured as soon as possible to avoid animal scavenging. Feed pets indoors or remove leftover food immediately.

Arizona’s deer — whether mule deer in the high desert or Coues whitetails in the sky island ranges — are resilient animals that have thrived in this landscape for thousands of years. The best way to support them is to let them remain wild, maintain their natural foraging behaviors, and keep the human-wildlife boundary intact. Staying informed about the different types of deer in your region and their natural habits is a great first step toward responsible coexistence.