Quail Hunting Season in California: Dates, Zones, Limits, and Rules for Hunters
October 30, 2026
Quail hunting season in California runs longer than almost any other upland season in the West, and it opens in waves rather than on a single date. Depending on where you hunt, you could be chasing mountain quail in mid-September or waiting until the third Saturday in October for valley coveys.
This article covers the dates, zones, limits, licenses, legal methods, and access options you need before heading afield. Rules change from year to year, so treat the numbers below as a planning tool and confirm everything against the current CDFW regulations booklet before you buy shells.
Important Note: Sources differ on the exact 2026-27 closing date. The Imperial County regulations summary from CDFW lists October 17, 2026 through January 31, 2027 for the general quail season, while one third-party guide lists a February 1, 2027 close. Go with the official CDFW summary and verify in the current booklet.
Quail Hunting Season Dates in California
California splits the state into three quail zones, and each has its own opener. The structure is simple to follow once you know which zone your hunting spot sits in. Zone Q2 covers Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino counties, and Zone Q3 is the rest of the state outside Q1 and Q2. Q1 covers the northeastern and Sierra counties, including Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity and portions of several foothill counties.
The 2025-26 season is the last one with official dates on the CDFW upland game page. Zone Q1 ran mountain quail only from September 13 to October 17, all quail from October 18 to January 25, Zone Q2 ran September 27 to January 25, and Zone Q3 ran October 18 to January 25. The staggered structure is meant to align early mountain-quail hunting in the high country with cooler weather while holding valley coveys for the broader October opener.
For 2026-27, a third-party season tracker lists the following pattern. As of its listing, Zone Q1 runs September 12 to October 16 for mountain quail only, then October 17 through January 31 for all species; Zone Q2 runs September 26 through January 31; and Zone Q3 runs October 17 through January 31. That fits the regulatory formula, since the code sets the general season in Zone Q1 from the third Saturday in October through the last Sunday in January.
| Zone | Area | 2026-27 Opener (Per Third-Party Listings) | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Mountain Quail Only) | Northeastern and Sierra counties | September 12 | October 16 |
| Q1 (All Quail) | Northeastern and Sierra counties | October 17 | January 31, 2027 |
| Q2 (All Quail) | North Coast counties | September 26 | January 31, 2027 |
| Q3 (All Quail) | Balance of the state | October 17 | January 31, 2027 |
There is also an archery-only window before the gun seasons. The regulations set it for the third Saturday in August extending for 21 consecutive days. Junior license holders get a special two-day early hunt in Mojave National Preserve, which ran October 4 to 5 in the 2025-26 season.
If you plan to stack hunts across the fall, our guides to dove hunting season in California and deer hunting season in California help you line up the calendar.
Quail Species You Can Hunt in California
California has three native quail, and you can hunt all of them. The state’s native species are mountain, California, and Gambel’s quail, and at least one species lives in every part of the state. That means close-to-home hunting for most residents.
The California (valley) quail (Callipepla californica) is the one most hunters pursue. It lives in lower-elevation valleys throughout California and also shows up in the foothills and high desert riparian areas. Valley quail need water, usually within about a quarter mile of a spring, seep, stock tank, or seasonal creek, plus a mix of overhead cover and feed.
Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii) belong to the southeastern deserts. Gambel’s quail occupy southeastern desert areas, while mountain quail use high-elevation Sierra and coastal range brush. The mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) is the biggest of the three. It carries a straight head plume and is noticeably larger than California or Gambel’s quail.
Pro Tip: Learn to tell a mountain quail from a valley quail before the early Q1 opener. During the mountain-quail-only window, shooting a valley quail in that zone is a violation. For a deeper look at identification, see our breakdown of types of quail in California.
CDFW expected good numbers going into last season. The department forecast above-average abundance of quail and chukar for the 2025-26 hunting season. Rainfall drives those numbers because it supports the insect populations critical for chicks and the growth of lupine, clover, chickweed, filaree and fiddleneck.
Quail Bag and Possession Limits in California
California’s quail limit is generous, and it applies the same way in every zone. The daily bag limit is 10 quail in any combination of species, and the possession limit is triple the daily bag limit. That works out to 30 birds in possession.
The limit is per hunter, not per group. The CDFW county summary notes that the bag limit applies to the individual hunter. Possession counts everything you have on hand, including birds from previous days.
| Species Group | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Quail (California, Gambel’s, Mountain, any combination) | 10 | 30 |
| Chukar | 6 | 18 |
Chukar are included because many quail hunters take them on the same trip. Chukar harvest is limited to six birds a day, and the possession limit is triple the daily bag limit for both quail and chukar.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in California
You need two things to hunt quail legally: a hunting license and an Upland Game Bird Validation. A valid California hunting license is required to take upland game, and the validation is required for any upland game bird except for junior license holders. Youth with a Junior Hunting License skip the validation.
As of the HuntingLocator guide’s most recent update, the Upland Game Bird Validation costs $24.33 for everyone except junior license holders. Fees reset each year, so check the CDFW license page when you buy. Buying the validation in summer is the simplest way to avoid an opening-week line at the license counter.
- Complete hunter education if you have never held a California hunting license.
- Buy your resident or nonresident hunting license through CDFW.
- Add the Upland Game Bird Validation for the current license year.
- Carry both with you in the field.
Hunting laws vary by state, and you should confirm all license requirements with CDFW before your trip. If you hunt other game in California, our guides to turkey hunting season in California and bear hunting season in California cover those tags and validations separately.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in California
Shotguns are the standard tool. The regulations list general upland seasons for shotgun, crossbow, and pistol or revolver for sooty and ruffed grouse only, with authorized methods of take defined in Section 311 of Title 14. Quail also have a dedicated archery season and a falconry season that runs August 16 to February 28 in the 2025-26 calendar.
The biggest rule to know is the ammunition requirement. Nonlead ammunition is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California. The CDFW county summary flags nonlead ammo required right alongside the quail season dates.
Common Mistake: Showing up with leftover lead shells from another state. Buy nonlead loads early and pattern your shotgun with them, since steel and other nonlead options can pattern differently than lead.
For gear, hunters commonly suggest a light-recoil gun. One guide recommends a 20- or 12-gauge with an improved cylinder or modified choke, loaded with 7.5 or 8 shot. Keep in mind that was written with lead in mind, so match your choke and load to the nonlead shot you actually plan to shoot.
Dogs are legal and widely used. Pointing and flushing breeds greatly improve your chances. Also remember that no alcohol may be consumed before or while hunting if you book a guided trip, a standard rule among outfitters.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in California
Quail shooting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. CDFW publishes that window in its upland bird announcements, noting that shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for forest grouse and mountain quail. Some small game, like the jackrabbit and cottontail listings in county summaries, use a different end time of one-half hour after sunset, so do not assume the rules match across species.
Sunday hunting is not restricted for quail in California. The season framework is built around the last Sunday in January as the closing day, and the general season runs continuously through weekends. If you have hunted in states with Sunday bans, California is refreshingly open.
Plan your day around the birds, not just the clock. One upland guide describes the prime windows as the first two hours of daylight and the last ninety minutes before sunset. Midday is a good time to scout and glass for coveys.
Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in California
Access is one of California’s real strengths for quail. California has millions of acres of public land available, including BLM parcels, national forests, and designated upland game bird areas. That keeps costs low compared to paid private access.
Several regions stand out. Hunter-oriented sources point to the Imperial Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Sierra Nevada foothills for quail, and to Los Padres National Forest and Mendocino National Forest for brushy cover and mountain quail. Oak ridges, chaparral slopes, and grassy draws in the central and southern parts of the state are all worth scouting.
| Access Type | Best For | What to Check First |
|---|---|---|
| National forests and BLM land | Mountain quail and valley quail on open terrain | Fire closures and road access |
| State wildlife areas | Hunters who want managed habitat | Area-specific regulations and check-in rules |
| Private hunting preserves and outfitters | Guided hunts with dogs and guaranteed shot opportunities | Deposit terms and season dates |
Wildfire closures matter, especially for mountain quail country. CDFW has urged hunters to check for wildfire-related closures before heading out in past seasons, so look up current closures on the forest or BLM district page the day before you go.
If you would rather not scout, guided options exist. One Diablo Range outfitter offers 110,000-plus acres of private land with guides and tailored upland packages, and its packages require a 50% deposit to reserve the date. Preserve rules can differ from public-land rules, so ask about season dates and bag limits when you book.
For the official word on every rule above, start with the CDFW upland game birds page. Cross-check zone boundaries and methods against Title 14, Section 300, and read the department’s season outlook for quail and chukar. A good habitat overview is also available in California Upland’s valley quail guide.
Once the season wraps, you can switch gears to other states or species. Hunters who travel might compare notes with our turkey hunting season in Utah guide for another western upland option.