PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds hunters that the deadline for submitting applications for Arizona’s 2006 fall big game hunt draw is 7 p.m. (MST), Tuesday, June 13.

Hopefuls can apply online through the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov, or mail or hand-deliver a paper application.

“The online option offers several advantages,” says Richard Rico, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s assistant director for special services. “It prompts you to accurately complete your form, dramatically reducing your chance of a rejected application due to errors.”

Another advantage is that online applicants can meet deadlines without worrying about mail delivery time or transit time involved in dropping off a paper application at a department office.

People submitting paper forms must allow enough time to ensure the applications are in the department’s possession by the deadline; postmarks don’t count. Applications and regulations are available at all seven Game and Fish offices and at license dealers statewide, or they can be downloaded from the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov.

“Department offices will probably be more crowded than usual on deadline day,” says Rico. “We’ll have extra staffing to help handle the volume, but applicants can save themselves time and trouble by applying online or by submitting their paper applications early.”

The big game draw is a lottery-style process for allocating the limited number of Arizona big game hunting permits to applicants. The department typically receives far more applications than there are available permits for the fall draw.