Arizona Bird Hunting

State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.

Official License Fees (Arizona Game and Fish Department)

  • Resident:
    • Annual General Hunting License: $37.00
    • Annual Combination Hunt & Fish License: $57.00
    • Youth Combination Hunt & Fish License (Ages 10–17): $5.00
    • Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp: $5.00
  • Non-Resident:
    • Annual Combination Hunt & Fish License (General Hunting not offered stand-alone): $160.00
    • 1-Day Short-Term Combination Hunt & Fish License: $20.00
    • Youth Combination Hunt & Fish License (Ages 10–17): $5.00
    • Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp: $5.00

Season Dates, Daily Bag Limits & Possession Limits

Gambel’s, Scaled & California Quail

  • Statewide:
    • Season Dates: Mid-October through Early February (e.g., October 17 – February 8)
    • Limits: 15 daily in aggregate / 45 in possession

Mearns’ (Montezuma) Quail

  • Statewide (Select Game Management Units):
    • Season Dates: Early December through Early February (e.g., December 5 – February 8)
    • Limits: 8 daily (counts toward 15-bird aggregate quail limit) / 24 in possession

Dusky (Blue) Grouse

  • Statewide (High-Elevation Mountain Ranges):
    • Season Dates: September 1 – November 9
    • Limits: 3 daily / 9 in possession

Chukar

  • Statewide:
    • Season Dates: September 1 – February 8
    • Limits: 5 daily / 15 in possession

Ring-Necked Pheasant

  • Unit 40B Shotgun (Permit Tag Required):
    • Season Dates: September 1 – September 15
    • Limits: 2 daily (roosters only) / 6 in possession
  • Statewide Archery:
    • Season Dates: Mid-October through Early February
    • Limits: 2 daily / 6 in possession

Mourning & White-Winged Dove

  • Statewide:
    • Season Dates: September 1 – September 15 (Early Season); Late November – Early January (Late Season)
    • Limits: 15 daily in aggregate / 45 in possession

Weather Assessment & Bird Hunting Outlook

Arizona experienced a relatively mild winter followed by drier-than-average spring conditions across low-desert scrub habitats. Because winter and early spring precipitation directly dictate vegetation green-up and insect production—the primary drivers of clutch sizes and chick survival for desert quail—the dry spring resulted in average to slightly suppressed brood recruitment for Gambel’s and Scaled quail across central and western hunting zones. Conversely, late summer monsoonal rainfall delivered essential hydration across the oak-savannah grasslands of southeastern Arizona. This seasonal moisture significantly bolstered forage and cover critical for late-nesting Mearns’ quail. Hunters should anticipate average covey counts for desert quail, while Mearns’ quail prospects in Santa Cruz, Pima, and Cochise counties offer solid potential for late-season foot hunts in high-elevation oak drainages.

For the most up-to-date information, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department website (www.azgfd.com) or consult the 2025-2026 Arizona Hunting Regulations booklet, typically available in late August or early September.