Quail Hunting Season in Oregon: 2026-27 Dates, Limits, and Rules
October 17, 2026
Quail hunting season in Oregon opens in two waves. Western Oregon hunters start on September 1, while eastern Oregon hunters wait more than a month for their opener.
That split catches plenty of people off guard, along with a mountain quail sub-limit that applies in the east. This article walks you through the 2026-27 season dates, species, limits, licensing, and where to hunt, so you know the rules before you load a shotgun.
Oregon’s quail seasons are long, and the state is open to over-the-counter hunting. As Hunting Locator notes, all upland birds are available without a controlled hunt application. That makes quail one of the easier ways to get into wing shooting in the state.
Important Note: Season dates, limits, and fees can change. Check the current Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations from ODFW before you head out. This article reflects sources available as of October 2026.
Quail Hunting Season Dates in Oregon
Oregon sets quail seasons by region. For 2026-27, Hunting Locator reports that the western Oregon season opens September 1, 2026, and the eastern Oregon season opens October 10, 2026. Both close January 31, 2027.
The dates follow a standardized plan. ODFW’s 2025-2030 upland game bird framework sets eastern Oregon’s opener as the second Saturday in October, with a September 1 start in the west. That means you can plan future seasons around the same pattern.
| Region | 2026-27 Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Western Oregon | September 1, 2026 | January 31, 2027 |
| Eastern Oregon | October 10, 2026 | January 31, 2027 |
If you are reading this in mid-October, the western season has been open for six weeks and the eastern season has just started. ODFW’s West Area game bird report dated October 1, 2026, lists quail among the open seasons and expects a productive year after a mild spring and summer.
Pro Tip: Before you leave home, confirm which side of the western and eastern Oregon line your hunting spot falls on. Opening day differs by more than a month, and the daily limit rules change with it.
Quail Species You Can Hunt in Oregon
Oregon has two wild quail you can hunt: the California quail, also called the valley quail, and the mountain quail. Both are native, and they live in very different country.
The California quail (Callipepla californica) is among Oregon’s most widely distributed game birds. According to ODFW’s upland framework, it lives in urban, agricultural, and wildland habitats. You can find it with pheasants on farmland or with chukar along desert stream courses. ODFW’s report adds that California quail are typically found at lower elevations in open fields and brushy patches.
The mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) sticks to higher, rougher ground. ODFW’s West Area report says these birds use roadway openings and brushy clear-cuts, especially south-facing ones. They also turn up in heavily forested areas.
Bobwhite quail are a small footnote. The Oregon eRegulations game bird page states that bobwhite quail may be taken as part of the quail bag limit.
- California quail: lowlands, farm edges, brushy ditches, and the Willamette Valley
- Mountain quail: Coast and Cascade ranges, timbered slopes, old burns, and clear-cuts
Mountain quail numbers looked healthy in recent ODFW reporting. The agency’s 2025-26 game bird forecast says mountain quail continue to thrive across the Coast and Cascade ranges. Eastern Oregon is another story for 2026, where Ultimate Upland describes drought-stricken quail, chukar, partridge, and pheasant populations.
Quail Bag and Possession Limits in Oregon
The quail limit is a combined number. California and mountain quail count together, so you cannot take 10 of each. In western Oregon, the daily bag limit is 10 quail and the possession limit is 30, according to the ODFW framework document.
Eastern Oregon uses the same 10 and 30 totals, with a tighter cap on mountain quail. As of the 2026-27 season, Hunting Locator lists a limit of 10 daily with no more than 2 mountain quail, and 30 in possession with no more than 6 mountain quail.
| Region | Daily Limit | Possession Limit | Mountain Quail Sub-Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Oregon | 10 combined | 30 combined | None beyond the combined limit |
| Eastern Oregon | 10 combined | 30 combined | 2 daily, 6 in possession |
Possession counts everything you have, not just what is in your game vest. Oregon’s general game bird rules say possession includes fresh, frozen, or otherwise processed birds. That means the quail in your freezer count toward your 30.
Common Mistake: Hunters in the east often track only total birds and forget the mountain quail cap. Know which bird is in your hand before you add it to the bag.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in Oregon
You need three things to hunt quail legally in Oregon: a hunting license, an upland game bird validation, and a free HIP validation. Hunting Locator describes the validation as an add-on layered on top of your base hunting license, required to pursue quail, pheasant, grouse, chukar, and partridge.
The Project Upland Oregon guide says the base license can be annual or three-day. Validations run on a July 1 to June 30 cycle, according to StateHunting.org, so a validation bought for last season will not cover this one.
- Buy a hunting license (annual or three-day) through ODFW or a license agent.
- Add the upland game bird validation.
- Get the free HIP validation.
- Complete hunter education if you are under 18, per Roe Outfitters’ license requirements.
Youth rules differ. StateHunting.org says hunters 11 and younger generally do not need a base bird license, though they still need the proper youth license or validation for certain permits and tags. License prices have been rising, so check ODFW for current fees instead of relying on an older article.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in Oregon
Most Oregon quail hunters carry a shotgun. Divebomb Industries notes that lightweight shotguns with No. 7.5 or No. 8 shot are a popular choice for quail, though that is a preference, not a legal requirement.
For exact weapon and ammunition rules, read the Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations booklet. I could not confirm gauge limits, magazine capacity, or nontoxic shot requirements for quail from the sources used here, and they matter most on certain public lands and wildlife areas.
Falconry is a legal method too. ODFW’s 2026-27 game bird staff summary lists a falconry open season of September 1 through March 31, 2027, with a daily bag limit of two California quail and a possession limit of three times the daily bag.
Baiting and night hunting are prohibited, according to one summary on Buffalo Rifles. Because that is a general overview and not the regulation text, verify the details in the official booklet.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in Oregon
I could not confirm Oregon’s quail shooting hours from the sources gathered for this article. Oregon publishes shooting hours in its game bird regulations, and the eRegulations page lists a shooting hours column for fee pheasant hunts, so check the table for your hunt dates.
The sources reviewed also did not point to a Sunday ban on quail hunting in Oregon. The state publishes open seasons by date range, and no source here carves out Sundays. Still, confirm with ODFW before you plan a Sunday hunt, especially on a wildlife area or private preserve that may set its own days.
Pro Tip: If you hunt a state wildlife area, call the area office first. Site-specific hours, access days, and gear rules can be stricter than the statewide quail season.
Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in Oregon
Oregon offers good public ground for quail, especially in the west. According to ODFW’s West Area report, driving old dirt roads in late afternoon and evening is a good way to locate groups. That works well on forest roads and timber company lands where access is allowed.
Habitat tells you where to start. Divebomb Industries points to the Willamette Valley’s brushy ditches, seed fields, and abandoned orchards for valley quail. For mountain quail, it suggests Cascade foothills with timbered slopes and old burns.
Southern Oregon is another option. Roe Outfitters guides quail hunts near Klamath Falls and recommends hunts of four or more days for mountain quail success. They say covey sizes range from 8 to 50 birds.
Fee hunts and preserves mostly focus on pheasant. The eRegulations game bird page lists 2026 western Oregon fee pheasant hunts, such as Denman Wildlife Area from September 21 through October 9. For quail on private land, look into leases or guided hunts, which Hunting Locator covers in its game bird guide.
Once your quail season is planned, you may want to line up your other Oregon hunts. Our guides to deer hunting season in Oregon, turkey hunting season in Oregon, dove hunting season in Oregon, and bear hunting season in Oregon cover the dates and rules for each.
Oregon’s quail season gives you more than four months of hunting, a combined 10-bird daily limit, and no controlled hunt draw. Get your license, upland validation, and HIP validation in order, learn the mountain quail cap if you hunt the east, and read the official regulations for hours and gear before opening day.