Quail Hunting Season in Ohio: Dates, Limits, and Open Counties for 2026-27
October 14, 2026
Ohio’s quail season is one of the shortest and most restricted upland seasons in the country. Quail hunting season in Ohio lasts just 24 days, and you can only hunt bobwhites in 16 southern counties plus a couple of wildlife areas. Miss those details and you could be hunting illegally before you ever flush a covey.
This article walks you through the 2026-27 dates, open counties, limits, licenses, legal methods, shooting hours, and public and preserve options. Everything is based on Ohio’s administrative code and the ODNR Division of Wildlife regulations, so you can plan your hunt with confidence. If you also chase other Ohio game, check our guides to dove hunting season in Ohio and turkey hunting season in Ohio.
Important Note: Some third-party sites list different quail dates or bag limits for 2026-27. This article follows the Ohio Administrative Code and ODNR regulations, which are the legal authority. Always confirm with ODNR or the HuntFish OH app before you head out.
Quail Hunting Season Dates in Ohio
Ohio’s 2026-27 bobwhite quail season is short and starts early in November. According to Ohio Administrative Code Rule 1501:31-15-21, bobwhite quail season is open from November 6, 2026, through November 29, 2026. The season opens alongside rabbit, pheasant, and chukar on the first Friday of November.
Young hunters get a head start. The youth hunting season for bobwhite quail is open from October 24, 2026, through October 25, 2026, and from October 31, 2026, through November 1, 2026. Youth limits match the regular season.
| Season | Dates (2026-27) |
|---|---|
| Youth Small Game Weekend 1 | October 24-25, 2026 |
| Youth Small Game Weekend 2 | October 31-November 1, 2026 |
| Regular Bobwhite Quail Season | November 6-29, 2026 |
Which Ohio Counties Are Open for Quail?
Season dates only matter if you are in the right place. The Ohio Administrative Code limits quail hunting to Adams, Athens, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Highland, Jackson, Meigs, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and Warren counties. That is 16 counties, all in the southern part of the state.
Hunters in northern and central Ohio will need to travel south or switch to pheasant and rabbit. The ODNR publishes an open-counties map in its regulations booklet and on the HuntFish OH app.
Quail Species You Can Hunt in Ohio
The only quail species you can legally hunt in Ohio is the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). It is a small, round-bodied ground bird that lives in brushy field edges, grassy cover, and early successional habitat. Ohio’s regulations refer to it specifically as the bobwhite quail.
No other quail species, such as Gambel’s, scaled, or California quail, are native to Ohio or included in the state’s hunting seasons. Bobwhite numbers have declined over time because of habitat loss. According to an older ODNR news release, quail and pheasant depend heavily on quality habitat on private lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.
Pro Tip: Look for fields enrolled in CRP or with CP33 quail buffers. The same ODNR release credited those habitat programs for upland bird gains in areas such as the Scioto River region.
Quail Bag and Possession Limits in Ohio
Ohio keeps the limit low. Under the administrative code, it is unlawful to hunt or take more than two bobwhite quail in any one day. The 2026-27 ODNR regulations list the same daily limit of 2 for the Nov. 6 to Nov. 29 season.
The same rule also restricts possession. The Ohio code text cuts off in the search excerpt before stating the exact possession number, and third-party sites disagree on it. Check the full rule on the Ohio Administrative Code site or the ODNR booklet before you stock a freezer or travel with birds.
Important Note: Older articles and some hunting sites list a daily limit of 4 quail. Ohio’s own rule text states a limit of 2, so treat any higher number as outdated or wrong.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in Ohio
Good news: you do not need a special quail permit. According to Hunting Locator, a base hunting license is required for all small game hunting, with no separate small-game stamp needed for squirrel, rabbit, quail, or pheasant. That keeps costs down for upland hunters.
Hunter education also matters. The same source says anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 must complete a hunter education course before buying a first license. If you have not finished the course, Ohio’s apprentice license lets you hunt with a licensed mentor.
- Valid Ohio resident or nonresident hunting license
- Hunter education certificate if born on or after January 1, 1982 (or an apprentice license)
- Permission from the landowner, since quail hunting is largely a private-land pursuit
Ohio’s license year runs March 1 through the last day of February, so a license bought for last season’s deer hunt may still be valid. Confirm your license dates before opening day. Our Ohio deer hunting season guide covers more on how the license year works.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in Ohio
Ohio’s small game rules are flexible. The 2026-27 ODNR regulations list legal small game hunting arms that include longbow or bow, crossbow, handgun of any caliber, and rifle of any caliber. Shotguns are also standard for quail.
In practice, most quail hunters use a 20-gauge or 12-gauge shotgun with light field loads, often behind a pointing dog. Quail flush fast and low, so an open-choke gun like improved cylinder or skeet works well in thick cover.
| Method | Practical Use for Quail |
|---|---|
| Shotgun | Most common; best for fast flushes in cover |
| Bow or Crossbow | Legal but very difficult on flushing birds |
| Handgun or Rifle | Legal by rule but rarely practical or safe on small birds |
Safety matters in the brush. Wear blaze orange if you share cover with other hunters, and always identify your target and what lies beyond it. Check the current ODNR regulations for any apparel or shot requirements on specific areas.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in Ohio
Ohio’s code is clear on hours. It is unlawful to hunt or take a bobwhite quail at any time, except between sunrise to sunset daily during the open seasons for bobwhite quail. The ODNR booklet repeats that quail hours run sunrise to sunset on private land in open counties.
Some third-party guides list hours as 30 minutes before sunrise, but that does not match the quail rule. Stick with sunrise to sunset to stay legal.
The rule says “daily,” which means Sundays are included. Ohio does not prohibit Sunday small game hunting, so you can hunt quail every day of the season, including Sundays, as long as you have landowner permission and stay within the open counties.
Pro Tip: Check sunrise and sunset times for your specific county on opening morning. Hunting even a few minutes outside the legal window is a violation.
Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in Ohio
Public land options are very limited. The ODNR regulations state that hours are sunrise to sunset on private land in open counties, Tri-Valley Wildlife Area, and Crown City Wildlife Area (Crown City offers controlled hunts only). The booklet adds that quail hunting is closed on all other public hunting areas.
The administrative code backs this up. It bans quail hunting on public hunting areas listed in Rule 1501:31-15-04, except the Tri-Valley wildlife area, the Crown City wildlife area, or when authorized by the chief of the division of wildlife. So Tri-Valley is your only open public area, and Crown City requires a controlled hunt.
Hunting Preserves as an Alternative
If you want longer opportunities or live outside the 16-county zone, a licensed shooting preserve is the practical choice. Ohio law lets commercial bird shooting preserves operate under their own license. According to the Ohio Revised Code Section 1533.731, hunting game birds on a wild animal hunting preserve requires the operator to also hold a commercial bird shooting preserve license.
Preserve seasons and bag limits are set by the operator within state rules, so they differ from the wild bird regulations above. Call the preserve ahead to confirm species, release practices, and pricing. For other Ohio birds, see our guide to goose hunting season in Ohio.
Planning Your Wild Quail Hunt
Most wild quail hunting happens on private farms and fields in the southern counties. Knock on doors early, offer to share birds, and ask about CRP acreage. Before you go, review the ODNR regulations booklet and the open counties map on the 2026-27 ODNR regulations.