Hunting quail is the way to go for hunters who are into fast-paced action on an exhilarating hunt that combines dog work, elite natural settings, and a rewarding pursuit. 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 hunting 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.
Quail Season Arizona 2026–2027 | |
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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.
How to Plan a Quail Hunt in Arizona
Arizona’s quail season runs for nearly four months, so you have time to plan a smart hunt. A few steps before you leave home will keep you legal and put you in the right habitat.
Follow these steps to get ready.
- Buy the right license. Residents need a general hunting license for $37. Nonresidents must buy a combination hunt-and-fish license for $160, or a short-term combination license for $20 per day. Youth ages 10–17 need the $5 youth combination license. Children under 10 can hunt quail without a license if a licensed adult age 18 or older accompanies them. One adult can bring up to two unlicensed children. Hunter education is not required to hunt quail, but AZGFD recommends it.
- Follow the season dates and limits. Review the season dates and bag limits we provided above. Then, to make sure you’re following all dates and limits, confirm this information with the AZGFD before your hunt.
- Pick your species. AZGFD groups Gambel’s and scaled quail as desert quail. It manages Mearns’ (Montezuma) quail separately, and those numbers rise and fall with summer monsoon moisture. Choose your region based on the bird you want to hunt.
- Check access rules. Open hunting areas do not include municipal parks, county parks, airports, golf courses, or posted areas. Several national wildlife refuges open for quail, but some allow hunting only in designated areas. Confirm each refuge’s rules before you go.
- Scout with HuntWise. Open HuntWise to view public and private land boundaries, drop pins on parking spots and likely cover, and check WindCast for wind conditions on hunt day. The new Live Wind feature gives you wind direction from the location you plan to hunt throughout the day. Save your hunt areas for offline use before you leave, since cell service can fade in remote country.
- Know your target. Endangered masked bobwhite quail now live in Units 36A, 36B, and 36C. Hunters can confuse them with Mearns’ quail when birds flush. Masked bobwhites are federally protected, and taking one is illegal. If you cannot identify a bird, do not shoot.
- Keep your birds identifiable. State law requires each quail you transport or possess to keep a fully feathered head, a fully feathered wing, or a leg with the foot attached. Plan your cleaning around that rule.
A good Arizona quail hunt starts with the right license and the right habitat. Confirm the dates, check your access, and scout with HuntWise before you head out. Then you can spend your time in the field following your dog instead of sorting out the rules.
Final 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 inclines 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 learning the bird's movement and behavior.
Then, when quail season opens in Arizona, during the most active times of early mornings and late afternoons, your dogs can be invaluable for 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 Accurate Arizona Quail Season Insights, Use HuntWise
The Arizona quail season is an exciting and social time when 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.
Content most recently reviewed and updated for recency October 26, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When is quail season in Arizona?
A: Arizona’s 2026-27 quail season for Gambel’s, scaled, and California quail runs October 16, 2026, through February 7, 2027. Mearns’ quail opens later, on December 4, 2026, and closes February 7, 2027.
Q: What kinds of quail can you hunt in Arizona?
A: You can hunt Gambel’s, scaled, California, and Mearns’ (Montezuma) quail. The first three share one season. Mearns’ quail opens seven weeks later.
Q: What is the bag limit for quail in Arizona?
A: The daily limit is 15 quail in the aggregate, and no more than 8 can be Mearns’ quail. The possession limit is 45 quail after opening day. After the Mearns’ season opens, that total can include up to 24 Mearns’ quail.
Q: Do you need a license to hunt quail in Arizona?
A: Yes, you need a license to hunt quail in Arizona if you are 10 or older. Residents need a general hunting license for $37. Nonresidents must buy a combination hunt-and-fish license for $160, or a short-term combination license for $20 per day. Arizona does not require a separate stamp or permit to hunt quail, and it does not require hunter education.
Q: Can kids hunt quail in Arizona?
A: Yes, kids can hunt quail in Arizona. Youth ages 10–17 need the youth combination hunt and fish license, which costs $5. Children under 10 can hunt quail without a license when a licensed adult who is 18 or older accompanies them. One adult can bring up to two unlicensed children.
Q: When is falconry-only quail season in Arizona?
A: The Arizona statewide falconry-only season runs September 1, 2026, through March 4, 2027. It excludes National Wildlife Refuges and Units 11M, 25M, 26M, and 38M. Units 25M, 26M, and 38M have their own season from July 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Falconers can take 3 quail per day, with a possession limit of 9.
Q: Is there a quail you cannot hunt in Arizona?
A: Yes. The endangered masked bobwhite quail is federally protected, and taking one in Arizona (or anywhere) is illegal. It lives in Units 36A, 36B, and 36C, and hunters can confuse it with Mearns’ quail when birds flush. If you cannot identify a bird, do not shoot.
