Quail Hunting Season in Maryland: Dates, Limits, and Where You Can Hunt
November 3, 2026
Quail hunting season in Maryland is open for roughly ten weeks, but more than half the state’s public ground is off-limits to it. That surprises a lot of hunters who show up at a state wildlife area east of the Susquehanna River with a dog and a shotgun, only to find the season closed there.
Maryland’s wild bobwhite population has shrunk dramatically, and the rules reflect that. This article walks you through the 2026-2027 season dates, daily limits, license requirements, legal methods, Sunday rules, and your best options for finding birds. If you hunt other game in the state, you may also want our guides to deer hunting season in Maryland and dove hunting season in Maryland.
Pro Tip: Season dates and boundaries can change between seasons. Confirm everything against the current Maryland DNR hunting guide before you head out.
Quail Hunting Season Dates in Maryland
For the 2026-2027 season, the Maryland small game regulations list quail season as November 7 through January 15. That window applies to private lands east of the Susquehanna River and all lands west of the Susquehanna, excluding Garrett and Allegany counties.
Two areas stay closed. Quail season is closed in Allegany and Garrett counties, and on lands owned or managed by the Department of Natural Resources east of the Susquehanna River. A recent Maryland DNR announcement repeated that bird hunters should note the closure on public lands east of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay.
| Area | 2026-2027 Quail Season |
|---|---|
| Private land east of the Susquehanna River | Nov. 7 – Jan. 15 |
| All land west of the Susquehanna (except Garrett and Allegany) | Nov. 7 – Jan. 15 |
| DNR-owned or managed land east of the Susquehanna | Closed |
| Allegany and Garrett counties | Closed |
Falconers get a longer window. Maryland DNR’s 2026-2028 regulation proposals list a falconry quail season beginning October 31 and running through February 15. Because that document was a proposal, check the final published regulations before you plan a falconry hunt.
Quail Species You Can Hunt in Maryland
The only quail you can legally hunt in Maryland is the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), a small, round-bodied ground bird known for its whistled “bob-white” call. Hunters sometimes call it a bobwhite or a Virginia quail. Project Upland reports that, according to the DNR, Maryland’s quail population has declined by more than 90 percent since the 1950s.
The decline comes from changes in farming practices and increased predation. Clean-farmed fields, lost hedgerows, and fewer weedy field edges have all cut into the cover bobwhites need. Land managers are using habitat treatments to bring the birds back, but wild coveys remain scarce.
Other upland game you may encounter while hunting for quail includes ruffed grouse, pheasant, and woodcock, each with its own season and limits. Maryland has no season for other quail species such as California or Gambel’s quail, so you will not see them in the regulations.
Quail Bag and Possession Limits in Maryland
Maryland keeps its quail limits simple. The limit is 6 per day, with a possession limit of 12, according to the state’s small game chart. That limit applies in every area where the season is open.
The possession limit counts all birds in your freezer, car, or lodging at once, not only what you shot that day. If you hunt two days in a row and take a full limit each day, you are at the possession cap of 12 and cannot legally take more until you eat or give away birds according to state rules.
- Daily bag limit: 6 quail
- Possession limit: 12 quail
- Applies to: Open areas only, since the season is closed elsewhere
Pro Tip: Realistically, finding six wild quail in a day is a good outing in Maryland. Plan on covering a lot of ground with a good pointing dog.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in Maryland
You need a Maryland hunting license to hunt quail. The small game hunting rules state that a hunting license is required to hunt small game, with a few exceptions. Those exceptions include resident landowners hunting only their own property and certain qualifying family members and tenants.
You also need a DNRid number before you can buy anything. A DNRid number is required to obtain hunting and trapping licenses, stamps and permits. You can buy your license through MD Outdoors at any hour, and the license immediately authorizes your participation in all purchased activities.
Quail are not migratory, so you do not need the Migratory Game Bird Stamp or a HIP permit for them. If you also plan to hunt woodcock or doves on the same trip, though, those stamps do apply. Our Maryland dove hunting season guide covers the migratory bird requirements.
Free Public Hunting Permit
Some state-managed public lands require a free permit. The Free Public Hunting Permit Program lists the properties that need one, along with their reservation and sign-in rules. Since DNR-managed land east of the Susquehanna is closed to quail, this permit matters mostly for lands west of the river.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in Maryland
Most quail hunters in Maryland use a shotgun and a bird dog, and that combination is the standard legal method. Shotguns in 20 or 12 gauge with improved cylinder or modified chokes handle the short, fast shots you get when a covey flushes.
Maryland also allows falconry for quail with the proper permit. A person who possesses a Falconry Permit may hunt specified resident game birds and mammals on Sundays during the open season.
On ammunition, Maryland allows lead shot for upland game birds, with exceptions in areas designated as non-toxic zones, according to our Maryland hunting laws overview. Check the rules for any state or federal property before you load up, since some areas require non-toxic shot.
Pro Tip: Maryland has rules on dog training seasons and permits. Project Upland notes that permit holders can train dogs on quail and other upland birds at any time, so look into the permit if you train a young pointer.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in Maryland
Your day starts early and ends at dusk. Daily small game shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. Those hours apply Monday through Saturday statewide wherever quail season is open.
Sunday hunting is where it gets complicated. Maryland generally prohibits hunting on Sundays, with specific exceptions. Quail is among the small game species that may be hunted on certain Sundays, but only in the counties listed below, and quail stays closed in Garrett and Allegany counties regardless.
| County | Land Type | Sunday Shooting Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Allegany, Cecil, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Washington | Private and designated public lands | Same as Monday through Saturday |
| Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Talbot | Private lands only | Half hour before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. |
| Somerset | Private lands and public land leased to a hunt club | Half hour before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. |
That table comes from the 2026-2027 Sunday small game chart. Because quail is closed in Allegany and Garrett, your realistic Sunday options for wild quail are the other listed counties and private land. Regulated shooting areas are a separate case, since persons hunting on Regulated Shooting Areas may shoot captive raised game birds on Sundays.
Important Note: Maryland made Sunday hunting changes for 2026-2027 in some counties, mainly for deer. Always read the footnotes on the county chart before you go.
Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in Maryland
Public land is the toughest part of Maryland quail hunting. With DNR lands east of the Susquehanna closed and Garrett and Allegany off the table, you are left with limited options west of the river and a lot of private ground that needs permission. As the Chesapeake Bay Magazine piece on upland hunting puts it, public lands holding enough quail and pheasant are rare in Maryland.
That same article points hunters toward released birds at private preserves as the most reliable option. This is an older article, so verify current operators and prices directly before booking. Its examples included Hopkins Game Farm in Kennedyville and Schrader’s Outdoors in Wye Mills.
Regulated Shooting Areas
Preserves operate as Regulated Shooting Areas, where you shoot pen-raised quail released for the hunt. They offer longer seasons than wild hunting and permit Sunday shooting of captive-raised birds, as noted above. You still need to check what licenses the preserve requires and whether it supplies dogs and guides.
Getting Access to Private Land
Private farmland is where most wild Maryland quail hunting happens. Knock on doors well before the season, offer to share any harvested birds, and ask about brushy field edges, fallow ground, and native grass plantings. Respect posted property and always get permission in writing if the landowner is willing.
If you want to compare how other upland and small game seasons work in the state, our guides to turkey hunting season in Maryland and goose hunting season in Maryland are good next reads. For hunters headed out of state, we also cover turkey hunting season in Pennsylvania, a neighboring state with its own upland opportunities.