The Guide to Quail Season in Arizona

The quail season in Arizona is steeped in tradition, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among hunters in the Arizona upland environments. For many, it's more than just the pursuit of birds; it's a way of life.

With four species to hunt, hunters can enjoy the challenge of tracking these quick and elusive birds across their differing environments and bagging out with some tasty game meat. 

When is quail season in Arizona? Keep reading for the season details, including some strategies for maximizing your time in the field to bag out. 

What Kind of Quail Can You Hunt in Arizona?

Arizona is home to four main types of huntable quail species, which the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) carefully manages through season limits, bag number restrictions, and other measures. 

The most popular is the Gambel's quail, sometimes called the desert quail. These birds are marked by their light gray plumage, prominent black belly patch (on males), and distinctive topknot of feathers. 

The second popular species you'll likely encounter is the Scaled quail, sometimes called the Blue quail. This bird is more at home in the grasslands and shrubby zones. It is brown with a blueish back coloration, short legs, and a small head.

The California quail shares a similar size with a curved crest and showcases a distinctive black and white scaling. 

The final popular Arizona quail species is the Mearn's quail, often called the Montezuma quail. It is distinguished by its stunning, bold, contrasting feathering of cream and brown and an even wider range of coloration on males. 

When Is Quail Season in Arizona?

Generally, the quail season runs from October to February. However, regulations such as season dates, bag limits, and hunting zones can vary from year to year based on conservation goals and population numbers as determined by the AZGFD. 

Here are the quail hunting dates for 2024!
 

• Gambel's Quail: October 18, 2024 – February 9, 2025 (statewide excluding National Wildlife Refuges)
   
• Scaled Quail: October 18, 2024 – February 9, 2025 (statewide excluding National Wildlife Refuges)
   
• California Quail: October 18, 2024 – February 9, 2025 (statewide excluding National Wildlife Refuges)
   
• Mearns's Quail: December 6, 2024 - February 9, 2025 (statewide, including San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge but excluding all other National Wildlife Refuges)
   
• Falconry Only:
  • September 1, 2024 – March 6, 2025: Statewide
  • July 1, 2024 – March 1, 2025: Open areas 25M, 26M, 28M 

Take special note of the open season date of the Mearns quail (December 6), as this is a different open season from other quail seasons. 

Before heading out for your hunt, check the notes regarding quail hunting provided by the AZGFD to make sure your hunt is legal.

Bag Limits and Regulations

At the season's opening, you can capture a general daily bag limit of 15 Gambel's, Scaled, or California quail for a possession limit of 45. Of these 15, only eight may be Mearns' quail.

After the Mearns season opens, the 45-possession limit may include 24 Mearns' quail, of which no more than eight may be taken daily. 

Youth-Only Regulations

Although there isn't a youth-only hunt allocated during the quail season, the AZGFD implements specific strategies to encourage youth hunting and participation. This includes a license waiver for youth under ten if accompanied by an adult (two children per one licensed hunter), and hunters aged 10-17 only need the youth combination hunt and fish license.

Hunting License Requirements

Any hunter over eighteen must have a valid Arizona hunting license.

Although hunter education is only mandatory for hunters 10 to 13 targeting big game, it is highly recommended that every hunter pass a safety course — especially when hunting quail — which can be fast-paced, require on-the-spot decision-making, and is often a group hunting activity. There's a high potential for firearms mishaps without an understanding of good firearm safety.

Understand Quail Habitat and Where to Hunt

Your hunting zones will be species-dependent as Gambel's quail is typically found in desert regions. Scaled quail prefers grasslands, and Mearns' quail is usually in more mountainous and forested zones. 

However, as a general rule, target diverse habitats such as open areas, desert landscapes, foothills, grasslands, brushy washes, and anywhere that provides shelter, food, and water sources. Public lands such as national forests and wildlife management areas, especially in the southeastern zones of the state, are typically the go-to areas for successful quail hunting. 

Popular locations include Gardner Canyon, adjacent lands to the Coronado National Forest, and the hamlets of Patagonia and Sonoita to target the elusive Mearn's quail population.

To help you find the best spots for your quail hunts in Arizona, download the HuntWise app and leverage features such as the topographical map overlay and LiDAR to uncover and mark hunting zones that provide the necessary water access, cover, and food access points. 

Our Tips For a Successful Quail Hunt 

An Arizona quail hunt can be challenging, as the zones can be unforgiving, especially in the desert and mountainous terrain. Due to this, it's essential to be in excellent shape, as you'll encounter inclination and some rocky land to traverse.

To help, spend some pre-season time training and exploring the potential hunting zones. You'll get into great shape while gathering insights into the bird's movement and behavior. 

Then, when it's time for quail season in Arizona to open, during the most active times of early mornings and late afternoons, your dogs can be invaluable in flushing and retrieving birds. Always be prepared with pliers to remove spikes and first aid gear for your hard-working dogs. Don't forget to pack nutritious food to keep them energized. 

Quail hunting is a social sport, so contact local hunting clubs and communities for insider tips and insights. 

For the Best Arizona Quail Season Insights, Use HuntWise 

The Arizona quail season is an exciting and social time where hunters can get together to enjoy this great state's versatility of landscape and species. Whether you're targeting one species or looking to bag out on all four, there are plenty of opportunities to take some stunning birds in the elite natural landscapes of Arizona.

To help maximize your time and take out the guesswork, use the HuntWise hunting app, which offers the best insights into where to hunt and the times of day to get into the field. We also deliver hunting tips, gear recommendations (and discounts), public land mapping, overlays, weather forecasting, and more. 

If you haven't tried it yet, download HuntWise and start your free trial! Then, explore the app free for your first week.