Quail Hunting Season in Indiana: Dates, Limits, Licenses, and Where to Hunt

Quail hunting season in Indiana is short, and the rules change depending on which side of Interstate 74 you are standing on. Pick the wrong side of that line and you can end up with the wrong closing date or the wrong bag limit in your game vest.

This guide walks you through the 2026-2027 season dates, the daily and possession limits, the licenses and stamps you need, the gear you can legally use, and where to find birds on public land and preserves. Use it as a planning tool, then check the DNR’s current Hunting & Trapping Guide before you head out.

Pro Tip: Save the Indiana DNR seasons PDF and the property rules for your chosen Fish & Wildlife Area to your phone before the opener. Cell service is spotty in many of the best bobwhite counties.

Quail Hunting Season Dates in Indiana

Indiana splits its bobwhite season into two zones, with Interstate 74 as the dividing line. Both zones open on the same day, but the southern zone stays open much longer. That extra time reflects healthier bird numbers in the south.

According to the Indiana DNR 2026-2027 seasons sheet, the north zone runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, 2026, and the south zone runs from Nov. 1, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027.

Zone	Opens	Closes
North of I-74	November 1, 2026	December 15, 2026
South of I-74	November 1, 2026	January 10, 2027

Hunters on a forum thread described the season as only about six weeks long in the north. That is a fair summary of the northern window, so scouting before opening day pays off. If you hunt near the highway, check a map and confirm which zone you are actually in.

Quail season overlaps with other upland and small game seasons. If you also chase roosters, see our guide to pheasant hunting season in Indiana, which opens on the same November date.

Quail Species You Can Hunt in Indiana

Indiana has one huntable quail: the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Dive Bomb Industries notes it is the only quail species in the state, known for its “bob-WHITE” whistle and tight covey behavior.

Bobwhites live in weedy fence rows, brushy field edges, native grass patches, and thickets near grain fields. Habitat loss has cut their numbers over the decades, so the birds you find tend to be clustered in the places that still offer good cover.

The same source lists southwest Indiana counties such as Greene, Daviess, Knox, and Sullivan as historically stronger for bird numbers. Early morning and late afternoon are the best windows, since quail feed then and retreat to dense cover in between.

Quail Bag and Possession Limits in Indiana

Your daily limit depends on the zone. Statewide, the north zone limit is four birds and the south zone limit is eight. The DNR sheet states that the possession limit for quail is two times the daily bag limit.

Area	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
North zone (general)	4	8
South zone (general)	8	16
North zone Fish & Wildlife Areas, Mississinewa Lake, Salamonie Lake	2	4
South zone Fish & Wildlife Areas, Patoka Lake	4	8
IPLA gamebird hunt properties	4 per hunter	Check hunt rules

Ultimate Upland lists the same figures, including the reduced limits on state properties. The DNR also notes that quail bag limits vary on some of its properties, so read the rules for your specific site.

Important Note: Some older articles list a five-bird limit and a late-December close. Those figures do not match the current DNR zone structure, so rely on the DNR seasons sheet and the eRegulations page for 2026-2027.

The lower limits on public ground exist because bobwhite numbers have been under pressure for years. The DNR has cut bag limits and hours at several properties in response to long-term population declines.

Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in Indiana

You need two things at minimum: a valid Indiana hunting license and the Gamebird Habitat Stamp. The Indiana gamebird regulations page confirms both are required to hunt northern bobwhite.

As of mid-2026, Hunting Locator reports that the stamp costs $11 and applies in both quail zones on top of your base license. You can buy it wherever Indiana hunting licenses are sold, including online through Go Outdoors Indiana.

1. Buy your base Indiana hunting license (resident or nonresident).
2. Add the Gamebird Habitat Stamp.
3. Complete any hunter education requirement that applies to you.
4. Carry proof of both while you hunt, and register for any reserved hunt you plan to attend.

If you also plan to hunt doves or woodcock, you will need HIP registration, which is a separate migratory bird requirement. Our guide to dove hunting season in Indiana covers that step.

Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in Indiana

Indiana keeps quail gear simple. The DNR states there are no equipment or ammunition restrictions for northern bobwhite hunting. It recommends a 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with size 6 to 9 shot.

For most hunters, that means an open-choke upland gun, a light load, and a good dog. Quail flush fast and fly erratically, so a tight pattern at close range matters more than raw power.

The same page says hunter orange requirements from the general regulations must be met while hunting bobwhite. Wear it, and check the Hunting & Trapping Guide for the exact specifications.

Pro Tip: Some DNR properties add their own rules for quail. Always read the property page for the Fish & Wildlife Area before you load the truck.

Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in Indiana

Statewide shooting hours and Sunday rules for quail are set in the DNR Hunting & Trapping Guide, and my research did not turn up a quail-specific statement on either. Because of that, confirm the current legal shooting hours and any Sunday restrictions directly in the official guide before you plan a weekend hunt.

Property rules can be tighter than the statewide baseline. The DNR has previously limited hunting hours at several southwest Indiana properties, restricting them to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. late in the season in a 2008 rule change. Those specific hours may no longer apply, but they show why you should read each property’s page.

Practical timing still matters. Quail feed at dawn and dusk, so plan to be in cover early and again late in the day.

Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in Indiana

Indiana offers three main routes to birds: state properties, private land access programs, and commercial preserves. Each works for a different type of hunter.

State Properties

Reclaimed mine land in the southwest has long been a quail draw. Dive Bomb Industries points to Greene-Sullivan State Forest and Glendale Fish & Wildlife Area for brushy cover and grassland pockets. In the northeast, Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area is another option for quail and woodcock.

Remember the lower bag limits at many state Fish & Wildlife Areas listed earlier. Two birds in the north zone and four in the south zone is the baseline unless the property says otherwise.

Private Land Access Programs

The DNR’s Indiana Private Lands Access (IPLA) program runs reserved gamebird hunts by draw. According to the 2026 IPLA gamebird information, the limit is four quail per hunter on all IPLA properties, and no waterfowl or other game may be taken on those hunts. The program’s older sibling, APPLE, also opens select private land to public hunting.

Hunting Preserves

Preserves give you longer seasons and more birds, which suits beginners and anyone training a dog. Listings on Hunting Locator’s Indiana quail page include a Marshall County preserve with quail hunting scheduled from October 10 through March 1 and a southern Indiana operation in Orange County that listed 10-quail hunts for $75. Those prices came from the listing, so confirm current rates with the operator.

Preserve birds are released stock, so your wild bobwhite limits do not apply in the same way. Ask the operator about their limits, and still carry your license and stamp as the listing notes a license is required.

Hunting other Hoosier game too? Our pages on turkey hunting season in Indiana and deer hunting season in Indiana help you build a full fall calendar.

Indiana quail hunting rewards hunters who do their homework. Know your zone, buy the stamp with your license, keep your limits straight on public ground, and confirm hours and Sunday rules in the DNR guide. With that done, all that’s left is finding the covey.