Quail Hunting Season in Alabama: Dates, Limits, and Rules for 2026-2027

Quail hunting season in Alabama opens on the first Saturday in November, which falls on November 7 this year. The odd part is that most hunters who chase bobwhites in the state no longer do it on wild ground. Habitat loss has pushed much of the action onto managed properties and commercial preserves.

This article walks you through the dates, bag limits, licenses, legal methods, and public and private places to hunt, so you can plan your season with confidence. Everything here is based on Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) information, but always confirm the details before you head out.

Important Note: Several third-party sites list older or conflicting dates and possession limits. The numbers below follow ADCNR’s own 2026-2027 pages wherever they were available, so check the official regulations before every hunt.

Quail Hunting Season Dates in Alabama

The ADCNR lists the 2026-2027 bobwhite quail season as the first Saturday in November through the last day in February. For this year, that works out to November 7, 2026 through February 28, 2027. The season is statewide, with one major exception: it is closed on the Bankhead National Forest.

One date-reading tip: some older or aggregator pages still show a November 1 opener or a mid-February close. Those reflect earlier seasons or reporting errors, so go with the first-Saturday rule and double-check the calendar each year.

Season	Opens	Closes	Notes
Bobwhite quail (statewide)	November 7, 2026	February 28, 2027	Closed on Bankhead National Forest
Licensed commercial preserves	Mid-October	March 30	Preserve season is generally longer than the wild-bird season

The preserve window comes from the Alabama Black Belt Adventures overview, which says the season there generally runs from mid-October through March 30. Confirm exact dates with the preserve you book.

If you also hunt other game birds, our guides to dove hunting season in Alabama and turkey hunting season in Alabama help you line up your fall and spring calendar.

Quail Species You Can Hunt in Alabama

The only quail you can hunt in the wild in Alabama is the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Alabama’s official season page lists it simply as “Bobwhite Quail,” and that is the bird hunters mean when they talk about quail in the state. There is no separate open season for other quail species.

Bobwhites favor pine uplands, brushy field margins, and native grasslands. According to Dive Bomb Industries, they like open ground for foraging, bunch grasses for nesting, and brushy patches for cover. Fencerows, field corners, thinned pine stands, and regenerating clearcuts are the places to look.

Wild bird numbers have dropped over several decades because of farming changes and habitat loss. The ADCNR notes that much of Alabama’s quail hunting now takes place on commercial quail hunting preserves, where pen-raised birds are released.

Quail Bag and Possession Limits in Alabama

The ADCNR sets the 2026-2027 limit at eight quail a day, with eight in possession. That means you cannot carry more than eight birds total, even across multiple days of hunting, unless you are at home and the birds are being stored.

You may see a 16-bird possession figure on some third-party sites, or a 24-bird figure elsewhere. These do not match the ADCNR’s current listing, so follow the official page and ask a conservation officer if you are unsure.

Limit Type	Bobwhite Quail
Daily bag limit	8
Possession limit	8
Season limit	None listed

Pro Tip: Wildlife Management Areas can set rules that are tighter than the statewide numbers. Read the area permit for the WMA you plan to hunt before you load the truck.

Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in Alabama

According to the ADCNR’s quail hunting page, hunting wild or pen-raised quail requires a Small Game or All Game Hunting License. If you hunt on a licensed preserve, you can instead buy a 7-day Commercial Fowl Hunting Preserve License, available to both residents and nonresidents.

Resident landowners and their immediate family can hunt their own property without a license, per the ADCNR’s resident license page. Residency is defined by your driver’s license or non-driver ID.

What You Need on Public Land

Hunting a state WMA adds layers. The ADCNR’s WMA Quick Reference Guide lists a hunting license, a WMA area permit, a valid WMA license, and daily check-in as the requirements for most hunters. A Wildlife Heritage License works in place of a resident hunting license and WMA license for small game, excluding waterfowl.

• Small Game or All Game License (or Wildlife Heritage License for residents on WMAs)
• Free WMA area permit or map permit
• WMA license (nonresidents, and residents who are not using a Heritage License)
• Daily check-in through the Outdoor Alabama app or a paper daily permit

Hunters born after a certain date must also show hunter education. Check the ADCNR’s license pages for the current cutoff and any apprentice options, and read our deer hunting season in Alabama guide if you plan to add big game to your license.

Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in Alabama

Shotguns are the standard tool for quail, and the shooting is fast and close. Dive Bomb Industries suggests a 20-gauge or 28-gauge with open chokes for typical flushes. Many hunters also use 12-gauge guns with light field loads.

Dogs are legal and traditional for quail in Alabama, which is why pointers and setters are part of the culture. On commercial preserves, you will find several styles of hunting, including mule-drawn wagons, horseback, quail buggies, and walk-up hunts.

Methods to Avoid

Fully automatic firearms are prohibited on WMAs under Alabama Administrative Code Rule 220-2-.55. That rule also sets area-specific weapon restrictions, so read the permit rules for the property you hunt. Exceeding bag limits on a WMA is also prohibited.

Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in Alabama

Alabama’s research results did not give me a verified, quotable shooting-hours rule for quail or a clear statement on Sunday quail hunting. Rather than guess, treat both as items to confirm directly with the ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division before you hunt.

In practice, most quail hunts start early. Dive Bomb Industries notes that mornings and late afternoons are ideal when birds are feeding and moving through cover. Hunters often plan around that rhythm even where the legal window is longer.

Common Mistake: Assuming last year’s rules still apply. Hunting Seasons notes that the biggest mistake hunters make in Alabama is relying on outdated regulations, so check hours and Sunday rules in the current digest.

Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in Alabama

Alabama has real public options, though they are limited. According to Sportsman’s Warehouse, the state operates 35 Wildlife Management Areas totaling over 721,000 acres. Special Opportunity Areas are smaller, with more limited hunting quotas.

The Black Belt and the wiregrass country of southeast Alabama have long been quail strongholds. Management work such as thinning and prescribed burns on the Conecuh National Forest also helps habitat. Remember that Bankhead National Forest is closed to quail hunting.

Option	Best For	What to Know
State WMAs	Budget-minded wild bird hunts	Needs a hunting license, area permit, and daily check-in
Special Opportunity Areas	Limited-pressure hunts	Quota-based access
Commercial preserves	Reliable action, guided hunts	Longer season; 7-day preserve license available
Private managed land	Wild coveys with permission	Landowner access and permission required

For a dependable hunt, book a licensed preserve. Black Belt lodges offer wagons, horseback, buggies, and walk hunts, and the season there generally runs longer than the statewide wild-bird season. If you want a good starting point for other seasons, see our guides to alligator hunting season in Alabama and bear hunting season in Alabama.

Whatever route you choose, verify your dates, limits, and license needs on the ADCNR’s Outdoor Alabama site before opening day on November 7. A few minutes of checking keeps your hunt legal and your season on track.