Quail Hunting Season in Tennessee: 2026-27 Dates, Limits, and Rules

Quail hunting season in Tennessee opens earlier on private farms than it does on state-managed public land, and that one detail trips up more hunters than any bag limit. The statewide season and the wildlife management area (WMA) season do not share the same closing date, so a legal hunt on your uncle’s fence rows can be an illegal one on a nearby WMA.

This article walks you through the 2026-27 dates, the bobwhite you can hunt, daily and possession limits, licensing, legal methods, shooting hours, and where to hunt on public ground or at a preserve. Always confirm the final details in the TWRA Hunting and Trapping Guide before you head out.

Quail Hunting Season Dates in Tennessee

For the 2026-27 season, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) lists quail season as November 7, 2026 through February 28, 2027, with a daily bag of 6. That window covers most private land in the state and gives you nearly four months of hunting.

The WMA season is shorter. Quail season is November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027 on wildlife management areas unless otherwise noted. Notice that WMA hunting starts a week earlier than the statewide opener but ends about six weeks sooner.

Where You Hunt	Season Opens	Season Closes
Statewide (private land)	November 7, 2026	February 28, 2027
Wildlife management areas (unless otherwise noted)	November 1, 2026	January 15, 2027

Tennessee also runs a limited quota hunt. For the third year, a Bobwhite Quail quota hunt will be held on four dates at Bridgestone Firestone WMA: Dec. 17, and Jan. 14, 20, and 21 in 2027. Applications for the 2026-27 hunt closed September 30, so that opportunity is already booked for this year.

Pro Tip: Quail Forever’s Tennessee biologist has said that planning your hunt for November is wise because bird numbers peak then, and that late-season pressure is hard on struggling populations. Cooler December and January days still offer good scenting for your dogs, so pick based on what matters most to you.

Quail Species You Can Hunt in Tennessee

In Tennessee, quail hunting means bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). The wild bobwhite is the most prevalent species, and it lives in habitats ranging from dense woods and rolling hills to open areas. You will not find other native quail species to chase here.

Bobwhites are an early-successional bird. They thrive in areas with a mix of warm-season grasses, forbs, bare ground, and scattered woody cover. Think brushy pastures, overgrown field edges, and fencerows rather than mature timber.

Wild numbers are lower than they once were. Populations have declined from historic levels, but focused habitat restoration and selective management have brought localized success. Middle and West Tennessee counties with native grass and fallow fields tend to offer the best odds.

Preserves are a different story. Licensed hunting preserves release pen-raised bobwhite, and many also offer pheasant and chukar. Those birds fall under different rules than wild quail, which the preserve section below covers.

Quail Bag and Possession Limits in Tennessee

The daily bag limit on wild quail is 6 birds. TWRA’s small game page also notes that the possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for most species, which puts your possession cap at 12 quail. One third-party summary lists the same 6 and 12 figures with a note that WMA exceptions are possible.

Be careful with older web pages. Some guides for the 2025-26 season listed an 8-bird daily limit, and the current TWRA table shows 6. Trust the agency’s own numbers.

Limit Type	Wild Quail
Daily bag limit	6
Possession limit	12

Important Note: Published sources disagree on small details, such as whether a WMA lists a different limit. If you plan to hunt a specific WMA, check its area page and the current TWRA guide before you go.

Preserve birds do not count against these numbers. One Tennessee preserve directory describes limits such as 8 quail, 6 chukar, or 4 pheasants, or a combination, but each operator sets its own package and you should ask when you book.

Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Quail in Tennessee

For wild quail, you need a valid Tennessee hunting license. One regional guide puts it plainly: a valid Tennessee hunting license is required to hunt quail. You can buy one online at gooutdoorstennessee.com, through the TWRA app, or from a license agent.

Hunter education also matters. It is required for hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, unless using the apprentice exemption. If you are new to the state, our Tennessee hunting license requirements article breaks down license types and who qualifies for each.

WMA hunting can add extra paperwork. Many areas require a WMA-specific permit or check-in, and quota hunts such as the Bridgestone Firestone drawing need an application. Applications can be made online at gooutdoorstennessee.com, through the TWRA mobile app, in person at any TWRA license agent, or at a TWRA regional office.

Licensed preserves are the exception. A Tennessee preserve directory states that quail, pheasant, Hungarian partridge, and chukar may be hunted without a hunting license, regardless of season, though ducks require a license. Confirm this with the preserve, since terms can vary by operator.

Legal Weapons and Methods for Quail Hunting in Tennessee

Most Tennessee quail hunters use a shotgun, and one 2026-27 season summary lists shotgun as the common method for quail. Small-game firearms and archery are also generally legal under state rules, though that same summary says the exact methods come down to the regulations for each species and area.

For wild bobwhite, a 20 or 12 gauge with improved cylinder or modified choke and number 7.5 or 8 shot is a typical setup. That is common upland practice rather than a TWRA requirement, so match your load to the terrain and cover.

Dogs are central to the sport. Pointers and setters hold coveys in tight cover, and cooler weather helps scenting. Check WMA rules before you bring dogs, because some areas restrict dog training or release dates.

Quail are not a migratory game bird, so the federal three-shell plug requirement and non-toxic shot rules that apply to waterfowl and doves do not govern quail hunting. WMAs, though, may have their own shot or firearm restrictions, so read the area listing.

Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Quail in Tennessee

Tennessee’s general small-game shooting hours run from sunrise to sunset, according to a summary of TWRA guidance that lists sunrise to sunset as the standard window, with some youth hunts varying. Quail are most active early and late, so you will usually be hunting the first and last couple of hours anyway.

Sunday hunting is generally allowed on private land in Tennessee, since the state does not have a statewide ban on Sunday hunting for small game. Rules on public land can be different, so check each WMA before you plan a Sunday trip. I could not verify a Sunday-specific quail rule in the TWRA sources I reviewed, so treat this as a point to confirm in the official guide.

Pro Tip: Before a Sunday or holiday hunt on a WMA, call the regional TWRA office. A two-minute call beats a citation, and staff can tell you about area-specific closures.

If you hunt other seasons, our pages on dove hunting season in Tennessee and turkey hunting season in Tennessee cover how their hours and rules differ from quail.

Quail Hunting on Public Land and Hunting Preserves in Tennessee

Public land is where most Tennesseans without a farm get their quail hunting. TWRA manages wildlife management areas, and habitat work such as prescribed fire helps bobwhites. One upland guide notes that public lands managed with fire and early successional practices often hold the best bird numbers.

Remember the shorter WMA season of November 1 to January 15 unless an area says otherwise. Bridgestone Firestone WMA in Warren County hosts the quota hunt, and TWRA’s public hunting lands map shows where to find other areas. Public land rules can differ between WMAs, so read each listing.

Hunting preserves give you a longer, more predictable season. Operators in the state advertise runs such as quail and pheasant hunts from October 1 through March 31 at one Athens preserve, while another lodge near the Mississippi line lists a season from November 1 to March 15 each year.

Option	Typical Season	License Needed
Wild quail on private land	Nov. 7 – Feb. 28	Yes
Wild quail on WMAs	Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 (unless noted)	Yes, plus any area permit
Licensed hunting preserve	Often October through March	Generally no, confirm with operator

Preserve pricing varies widely. For example, one West Tennessee operation lists a family membership at $1,350 per season for 100 quail, though those figures are from a business page with no stated date, so call for current rates. Many preserves also supply dogs and guides if you do not own a bird dog.

Whichever route you pick, confirm dates and limits in the TWRA small game regulations before opening day. For a full list of season dates by species, the agency’s hunting seasons summary is the place to start.

If you also hunt big game, see our pages on deer hunting season in Tennessee and bear hunting season in Tennessee to plan the rest of your fall.