ABOUT THE HUNT

What is the Hunt?

Every year under the Hunter’s Moon, puzzle-seekers gather for a mysterious evening of problem-solving, teamwork, orienteering, and getting utterly lost in the desert. The basic idea of The Hunt is simple: solve as many clues as possible from sunset to midnight without running into any jackasses.

Disclaimer: The Arizona Treasure Hunt is a puzzle-solving community event. It does not offer cash, monetary prizes, or financial rewards of any kind. The Registration Fee is for the entertainment experience of participating in the event.

Teams consist of up to six people who drive through a 300 square mile desert area in a single van or, in some cases, minivans. Teams start at one of the 26 clues sites, labeled A through Z, then solve each one to progress to the next site. But careful of a missolve or you might end up at one of the dreaded “jackass” sites.

At the end of the evening, all teams check in and the team with the lowest average time per clue is declared the winner!

But why?

Well, because it’s fun! Like really quite a lot of fun. Running around in the desert at night, solving puzzles with your friends, and competing for something you had no idea was so important to you until it all comes rushing back to you the week before as you are pouring over the HWOW on your computer at your desk and your colleague Jeff walks up behind you, looks over your shoulders, and asks, “what’s that?” and you try to frantically explain until they give you that look that says ‘this guy’s a little off’ and you realize you should have switched tabs quicker or maybe Jeff shouldn’t be so damn nosy because he clearly doesn’t get it and why should you change who you are at work just because Jeff doesn’t get it?? Ugh… Jeff.

What do participants receive?

Nothing you can spend at the bank! The Arizona Treasure Hunt has no cash prizes, no event fees beyond basic participation costs, and absolutely no gambling element.

How teams are recognized:

  • The top three teams are honored during an awards ceremony.

  • The top-performing team is given the “privilege” of serving on the Treasure Hunt Committee for the next three years.

  • The second-highest performing team is often jokingly referred to as “the real winners” since they avoid that duty.

So to be crystal clear: this is a community tradition, not a gambling contest. No money, no gift cards, no financial reward of any kind is ever given.

Who plans it?

The Treasure Hunt Committee consists of the 18 lucky individuals from the three teams who had won the the previous three Hunts. Making The Hunt happen is a lot of work, but thanks to a process which has been honed over the past three quarters of a century, the workload is spread out across well-defined roles. And yes, it’s fun to come up with clues to inflict on fellow hunters.

For example, sometimes there are pre-registration clues so you can figure out when registration for the Hunt opens. For those clues, Wizards may drop a hint every now and then, but they shouldn’t have to.

The Arizona Treasure Hunt has been an annual tradition since the Phoenix section of the IEEE initiated the Hunt in 1951. The Hunt had been an annual event in the Chicago area and with the development of the electronics industry in the Valley, many transplanted Chicagoans (mostly Motorola engineers) persuaded the Phoenix section directors to sponsor a Valley version. It has run annually since then without missing a single year*!

How did this start?

In the early years, The Hunt had a definite engineering flavor, but over the years it has evolved and is now more reflective of the social nature of the event. While there are still some occasional clues requiring engineering, math or science knowledge and proficiency, the bulk of the clues relate to current events, pop culture and general knowledge. This evolution has made it more enjoyable for participants of all backgrounds. Historically, each of the 90 six-person teams consisted of three husband-and-wife pairs, but today you should fill your van with whomever you want!

*except 2020…COVID…

 FAQs

  • You teammates, your waiver, and a six+ seater van, minivan, or SUV.

    You will be running through the desert at night so please be prepared with adequate clothing (long sleeves, pants, and closed-toed shoes) and enough flashlights for everybody.

  • If you have never hunted before, it is recommended that you read through the rules and rookie guide here.

    If you are already familiar with the Hunt, then you will know that the Hints Wise and Otherwise document, usually released one month prior to the Hunt, is the lifeblood of Hunt night. Examine every nook and cranny for clues.

    Otherwise, it is important that you familiarize yourself with any major events, trends, death, or major happenings of the prior year. You may also want to brush up on the theme and associated subject matter.

  • You may sign up with up to six people, however you will need to pay the full team price and it is highly recommended to hunt as a complete team by the time the full moon rolls around.

    If you do not have a full team and are looking for additions or are an individual looking for a team, feel free to email the committee for match-making services.

    The committee is also always looking for Hunt Night volunteers. If you don’t have a team, but are interested in the experience, feel free to reach out.

  • The Hunt is open to anyone who can make it out to the desert on Hunt Night, however...

    The success of the Hunt throughout all these years has depended on a fully-committed committee passing on the tradition and doing their time to serve the greater good.

    If you were to win the Hunt, you would need to contribute to Hunt planning, which includes both remote and in-person commitments throughout the year that must be covered by you or your teammates.

  • The registration fee (2025 fee - $600 per team) covers the cost of organizing and operating the event, including materials, logistics, and post-event activities.

  • Perhaps the most challenging part of the Hunt is signing up. The Hunt usually sells out within minutes so mark your calendar and alarm to click through the sign up as quickly as possible.

    The hunt sign up date and time may be announced as a clue. If you don’t know the date and time you may want to look around for clues once the registration announcement goes out.

If you find a jackass , just know that it happens to the best of us.

Get stuck? You can always pop open an emergency. Just remember to have fun! (and don’t forget to thank a committee member.)