Quail Hunting Season in Nevada: Dates, Bag Limits, and Where to Hunt
November 7, 2026
Quail hunting season in Nevada gives you more than four months of wing-shooting across desert washes, sagebrush foothills, and mountain brush, and most of the state’s best ground is public land. The general season opens October 17, 2026, but kids get a head start more than three weeks earlier.
Nevada has three huntable quail species, and each one has its own daily limit. Mixing them up is the most common way hunters end up with a citation, so this article lays out the dates, limits, license rules, and access options you need before you load the truck.
Everything below comes from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) commission regulations and the state’s eRegulations small game guide, cross-checked against hunting-site summaries. If you also chase other game here, our guides to dove hunting in Nevada and turkey hunting in Nevada pair well with a quail trip.
Important Note: Some third-party sites list different quail dates and limits, such as a September 14 opener or an 8-bird daily limit. The NDOW commission regulation and Nevada’s eRegulations guide both show the dates and limits used in this article, so treat those as the authority and confirm with NDOW before you hunt.
Quail Hunting Season Dates in Nevada
Nevada runs two quail seasons: a youth-only window and the general season. According to the NDOW commission regulation for 2026-2027, the youth California and Gambel’s quail seasons run September 26 through October 4, 2026, and are statewide. The same regulation sets the 2027 youth dates at September 25 through October 3.
The general season is longer. Nevada’s eRegulations upland game listing shows statewide quail seasons running October 17, 2026 through February 7, 2027. A Great Basin Sun report on NDOW’s small-game announcement, published September 25, 2026, confirms that quail seasons open October 17.
| Season | Dates | Who Can Hunt |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Quail | September 26 – October 4, 2026 | Hunters 17 and younger with an adult 18 or older |
| General Quail | October 17, 2026 – February 7, 2027 | Residents and nonresidents |
Season length gives you real flexibility. Early-season coveys are tight and easy to find near water, while late-season birds in January are wary and run more than they flush. If you hunt in cold weather, plan around road conditions at higher elevations, since snow can improve scenting but limit access.
Quail Species You Can Hunt in Nevada
You can hunt three species of quail in Nevada: California, Gambel’s, and mountain quail. Where you hunt largely decides which one you meet.
California quail (Callipepla californica) are the state’s most widespread and most abundant option. They favor brushy foothills, riparian corridors, and the edges of agricultural fields, mostly in the western and northern parts of the state. Counties like Washoe and Humboldt hold huntable numbers, often near farm edges or water-rich canyons.
Gambel’s quail (Callipercula gambelii) belong to the desert. Males have a prominent black belly patch, and the birds stick to desert scrub, washes, and thorny thickets in southern Nevada. Clark, Lincoln, and Nye counties are the core range, according to Divebomb Industries’ desert quail guide.
Mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) are the toughest of the three. They live in higher elevations and dense brush in the state’s mountain ranges, and their topknot is long and straight compared with the other two species. NDOW asks hunters who harvest mountain quail to report their harvest, since the agency collects data on this less common bird.
Pro Tip: Learn the topknot and belly differences before opening day. A Gambel’s quail with its black belly patch and a California quail can look alike at a glance, and their daily limits differ.
Quail Bag and Possession Limits in Nevada
Limits depend on the species you shoot, not just on the total number of birds. The eRegulations upland listing shows California quail at 10 daily and 30 in possession, Gambel’s quail at 5 and 15, and mountain quail at 2 and 6.
| Species | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| California Quail | 10 | 30 |
| Gambel’s Quail | 5 | 15 |
| Mountain Quail | 2 | 6 |
The youth season uses the same species limits. The NDOW commission regulation lists a daily limit of 10 and possession limit of 30 for youth California quail, and 5 and 15 for youth Gambel’s quail. All quail limits are “singly,” meaning each species counts toward its own limit rather than pooling together.
That differs from chukar and Hungarian partridge, which are limited in the aggregate at six birds a day. Do not apply that pooled rule to quail. The Gambel’s limit dropped from 10 and 30 to 5 and 15 in a 2022 NDOW recommendation, so older articles and forum posts with higher numbers are out of date.
- Count each species separately in the field.
- Possession limits cover birds in your freezer and vehicle, not just the day’s bag.
- Keep a running tally if you hunt multiple days on one trip.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in Nevada
You need a valid Nevada hunting license to hunt quail, and nonresidents are welcome. Youth hunters are also bound by license rules, since the NDOW regulation notes that license requirements apply under NRS 502.010.
Sources disagree on whether a separate upland game bird stamp is needed. Older and outfitter pages mention an Upland Game Bird Stamp, but a Hunting Locator game bird guide updated in 2026 says upland privileges are included in the base license, with no separate quail stamp. Check the current NDOW license page or call a regional office before you buy.
The Federal Duck Stamp applies to waterfowl hunters, not quail hunters. Hunter education matters too: according to Hunting Locator, anyone born after January 1, 1960 must complete a hunter education course before buying a Nevada hunting license.
Pro Tip: If your trip also includes big game, check the draw deadlines early. Our guides to Nevada deer season and Nevada bear season cover the application side.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in Nevada
Shotguns are the standard tool for quail, and Nevada also allows falconry. The eRegulations small game guide lists falconry seasons for upland game birds alongside regular seasons, so you can pursue quail with a trained raptor if you hold the proper permits.
For gauge, a 20 or 28-gauge is a popular choice for quick shots at fast-moving birds, according to Divebomb Industries. Lighter guns also help when you are covering rocky desert ground all day. Quail flush fast and low, so open chokes work well early, while tighter chokes can help on late-season birds that flush wild.
Dogs are a big advantage. You may train your dog for bird hunting from August 1 to April 15, according to Project Upland’s Nevada summary. Only blank cartridges can be fired outside an open season, and you may use only privately owned game birds for training.
I could not find a verified list of prohibited methods, such as shot type restrictions or rules on baiting, in the sources reviewed. Read the full upland game section in the NDOW regulations before you hunt, especially if you plan to use an unusual method or hunt on a wildlife management area, where extra rules often apply.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in Nevada
Quail shooting hours are sunrise to sunset daily. That wording appears in the NDOW commission regulation for youth quail seasons and in the eRegulations listing for the general season.
The word “daily” is the key detail. Nevada’s upland game regulations do not carve out a Sunday exception for quail in the sources reviewed, and the season is listed as open every day of the week. That makes Nevada more flexible than states that close Sundays on private or public land.
Because the regulation is written as “sunrise to sunset,” set your watch by the official sunrise and sunset times for your hunting area. Quail are most active in early morning and again in the evening, so those windows are worth your time. Midday is usually slow, which is a good time to rest your dog and refill water.
Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in Nevada
Public access is Nevada’s biggest advantage for quail hunters. Most of the state is public land managed by the BLM and state agencies, which makes it highly accessible to hunters. In dry country, focus on BLM land and Wildlife Management Areas near water, since quail concentrate around springs, guzzlers, and creek bottoms.
For Gambel’s quail, scout the washes, creosote, and mesquite thickets in southern Nevada. For California quail, look to the brushy draws and river bottoms of the west and north. The Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area near Yerington is one location hunters often mention for upland birds.
- Pick your species and match it to the right region.
- Find water, then look for cover within a short walk of it.
- Hunt the first and last two hours of daylight.
- Carry extra water for you and your dog, since desert heat is hard on both.
If you would rather hire local knowledge, the Ultimate Quail Hunting directory for Nevada lists guides who run wild Gambel’s quail hunts near Las Vegas. Those trips are guided hunts on wild birds rather than pen-raised preserve hunts, and prices typically do not include your license. I did not find a verified list of licensed hunting preserves in Nevada, so contact NDOW for current options if you want a preserve experience.
Planning a longer western trip? Our guides to Utah turkey season and California deer season cover nearby states, and the season windows overlap well with Nevada’s long quail calendar.
Nevada’s quail season is easy to plan once you know three numbers: the October 17 opener, the February 7 close, and the species limits of 10, 5, and 2. Confirm the details with NDOW before you go, because regulations can change between seasons, and then spend your time where it counts, near water and cover with a good dog.