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

Quail hunting season in New Hampshire is long on paper and short on wild birds. The season runs three months, but bobwhites do not live here naturally, so almost every bird you flush comes from a private preserve release.

That one fact shapes everything else in this article. You will see the 2026-2027 season dates, the daily limit, what license you need, which guns and methods are legal, and where you can hunt. You will also see how Sunday hunting and shooting hours work for upland birds in the Granite State.

Rules change, so treat this as a planning tool and confirm details against the current New Hampshire Fish and Game hunting digest before you head out.

Quail Hunting Season Dates in New Hampshire

The 2026-2027 quail season opens October 1 and closes December 31, 2026. According to the New Hampshire small game regulations (last updated August 27, 2026), the season covers all Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), so you do not need to match your hunt to a zone.

The state groups quail with chukar and Hungarian/European partridge under one season and one limit. That means any date in the window works for all three birds.

Game Bird	2026-2027 Dates	WMUs
Quail, Chukar, Hungarian/European Partridge	Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026	All
Ruffed Grouse	Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026	All
Pheasant	Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026	All
Youth Pheasant Weekend	Sept. 26 to 27, 2026	All

Since today is October 11, 2026, you are already in the first two weeks of the season. Release-based hunting tends to be best early, before preserve birds thin out, but private operations set their own schedules and often run past the state’s closing date only where state law allows.

Pro Tip: Call your chosen preserve before you drive. Operators release birds on their own timetable, and a quick call tells you which fields were stocked most recently.

Quail Species You Can Hunt in New Hampshire

The only quail with an open season here is the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). The state’s Small Game and Upland Bird Hunting page lists quail alongside chukar and Hungarian/European partridge as legal upland species.

Chukar (Alectoris chukar) and Hungarian partridge (Perdix perdix) share the same dates and limit, so many preserve hunters mix them into a single outing.

Here is the catch most online guides skip. According to Project Upland, there are seasons for bobwhite quail, chukar, and Hungarian partridge, but no naturally occurring populations. Ultimate Upland adds that these birds are typically found near private preserves because of pen-raised releases.

• Do not expect wild coveys. A day of walking old fields will rarely turn up a bobwhite.
• Do not confuse quail with grouse. Ruffed grouse is locally called “partridge” and has its own listing and limit.
• Plan around preserves. Released birds are where the shooting actually is.

Quail Bag and Possession Limits in New Hampshire

The daily limit is four birds. The state’s regulations list the limit for quail, chukar, and Hungarian/European partridge as 4 per day, with no season limit.

Several sources list the possession limit as unlimited for this group, including StateHunting.org, though the official table only states the season limit as “No.” Check the printed digest if you plan a multi-day trip and want to hold birds over several days.

Species	Daily Limit	Season Limit
Quail, Chukar, Hungarian/European Partridge	4	No limit
Ruffed Grouse	4	No limit
Pheasant	2	10

Important Note: The four-bird limit applies to the quail, chukar, and partridge group as a whole according to how the state’s table is laid out. If you shoot a mixed bag at a preserve, count every bird in that group toward your four.

Preserve rules can differ from state limits on birds that were purchased and released. Ask the operator how they handle limits before you book a package hunt.

Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in New Hampshire

You need a valid hunting license, and you do not need a separate quail permit. The Fish and Game Department states that hunters age 16 and older must have a current NH Hunting, Combination, or Small Game license (the Small Game license is for nonresidents only) to hunt small game.

Every license also carries a Wildlife Habitat Fee. Hunting Locator reports a $2.50 habitat fee added to each New Hampshire hunting license, citing 2026 rates from Fish and Game.

First-Time Hunters

New hunters have one extra step. According to Kalkal, new hunters must finish a Hunter Education course before buying a license, and participants must be at least 12 years old.

Pheasant Permits and Why They Matter

Quail does not need a pheasant license, but pheasant does. If you plan to carry a bird dog through preserve fields that also hold stocked pheasant, make sure you only shoot what your permits cover. The state requires a pheasant license for hunters 16 and older, and youth pheasant hunters do not need one while their accompanying adult does.

1. Complete Hunter Education if you have never held a hunting license.
2. Buy a NH Hunting or Combination license (nonresidents can choose the Small Game license).
3. Add a pheasant license only if you plan to hunt pheasant.
4. Carry your license afield and confirm any preserve-specific requirements.

Licenses are sold through the state’s licensing system, and Fish and Game can confirm current fees. If you also hunt other game in the state, our guides to deer hunting season in New Hampshire and turkey hunting season in New Hampshire cover the add-on permits for those species.

Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in New Hampshire

Shotguns are the standard tool for quail, and they are what most preserve operators expect. The sources reviewed for this article did not list a quail-specific weapon table, so confirm exact gauge, shot, and magazine rules in the current Fish and Game digest.

What you can count on is a general framework. Upland birds in the Granite State are hunted on foot, with or without a bird dog, and falconry is recognized for several small game species under the state’s small game rules.

• Shotgun: A 20 or 12 gauge with improved cylinder or modified choke suits the close flushes you get over pointing dogs.
• Bird dogs: Pointers, setters, and flushing breeds all work. Preserves often supply guides and trained dogs.
• Nontoxic or lead shot: Check preserve and public-land rules, since some properties restrict shot type.

Pro Tip: Wear hunter orange if you will be in fields where other upland hunters are working. Pheasant hunters share many of the same properties as quail hunters in the fall.

Do not use bait or electronic calls as a shortcut. If a method is not explicitly allowed in the digest, ask a conservation officer or call Fish and Game before you rely on it.

Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in New Hampshire

Sunday hunting is allowed in New Hampshire. Hunters Guides answers the question directly: yes, you can hunt on Sundays in NH. That puts the state ahead of several Northeast neighbors that still restrict Sunday hunting.

The sources I reviewed did not give a quail-specific shooting-hours rule. New Hampshire commonly regulates small game hours as one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, but verify that against the digest before you rely on it.

Pheasant Closures That Can Affect Your Day

Quail has no morning closure, but pheasant does. The state closes pheasant season until 2 p.m. statewide on in-season stocking days to protect crews and hunters. For 2026, Fish and Game’s stocking schedule lists the closures as Thursdays and Fridays, October 8 to 9, 15 to 16, and 22 to 23.

If you hunt a mixed upland property on those days, keep your morning plans on quail or partridge only, and stay out of stocked pheasant fields until 2 p.m.

Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in New Hampshire

Because quail are not wild here, hunting preserves are your best bet. New Hampshire does not stock quail on public land, so wildlife management areas will mostly hold grouse, woodcock, and stocked pheasant instead.

New Hampshire is generous with access in general. HuntWise notes that federal, state, county, municipal, and private land with permission is open to hunting unless posted otherwise. Ultimate Upland lists the White Mountain National Forest and state WMAs among public options for upland birds.

Choosing Between Public Land and a Preserve

Option	Best For	What to Expect
Hunting Preserve	Reliable quail and chukar action	Released birds, guides and dogs often available, fees apply
Public Land and WMAs	Grouse, woodcock, stocked pheasant	Free access, no stocked quail, you do the scouting
Private Land With Permission	Walk-up hunts on friendly farms	Get permission first, do not expect wild quail

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge is one public spot sometimes mentioned for upland birds, but refuge rules are separate from state rules. Check refuge hunting regulations before you go.

If you travel for hunting, our state guides for turkey hunting season in Pennsylvania and turkey hunting season in Ohio can help you plan combined upland and turkey trips. For other New Hampshire game, see bear hunting season in New Hampshire.

Book your preserve early, bring a dog or arrange a guide, and plan your hunt inside the October 1 to December 31 window. A well-run preserve hunt gives you the quail experience that New Hampshire’s fields cannot provide on their own.