California Bird Hunting

Seasons Span September 12 – January 31, 2027

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

Official License Fees (California Department of Fish and Wildlife)

  • Resident:
    • Annual Hunting License: $64.54
    • California Upland Game Bird Validation: $24.84
    • Junior Hunting License (under 16): $17.02
    • Disabled Veteran / Recovering Service Member License: $10.04
  • Non-Resident:
    • Annual Hunting License: $225.46
    • Two-Day Non-Resident Hunting License: $64.54
    • One-Day Non-Resident Hunting License: $31.06
    • California Upland Game Bird Validation: $24.84

Season Dates, Daily Bag Limits & Possession Limits

Quail (California, Mountain, Gambel’s)

  • Zone Q1 (Northeastern & Mountain Counties):
    • Season Dates: September 12 – October 16 (Mountain Quail Only); October 17 – January 31 (All Quail Species)
    • Limits: 10 daily in aggregate / 30 in possession
  • Zone Q2 (North Coast & Central Coast):
    • Season Dates: September 26 – January 31
    • Limits: 10 daily in aggregate / 30 in possession
  • Zone Q3 (Southern California & Central Valley):
    • Season Dates: October 17 – January 31
    • Limits: 10 daily in aggregate / 30 in possession

Chukar Partridge

  • Statewide:
    • Season Dates: October 17 – January 31
    • Limits: 6 daily / 18 in possession

Ring-Necked Pheasant

  • Statewide (General Season):
    • Season Dates: November 14 – December 27
    • Limits: 2 males per day for the first 2 days; 3 males per day thereafter / 9 in possession

Sooty (Blue) & Ruffed Grouse

  • Select Open Counties (Northern Coast & Sierra Ranges):
    • Season Dates: September 12 – October 13
    • Limits: 2 daily (single species or combined) / 6 in possession

White-Tailed Ptarmigan

  • Select Sierra Nevada Alpine Zones:
    • Season Dates: September 12 – September 20
    • Limits: 2 daily / 2 per season

Mourning & White-Winged Dove

  • Statewide:
    • Season Dates: September 1 – September 15 (First Split); November 14 – December 28 (Second Split)
    • Limits: 15 daily in aggregate (max 10 white-winged) / 45 in possession

Eurasian Collared-Dove

  • Statewide:
    • Season Dates: Open year-round
    • Limits: No daily or possession limit

Weather Assessment & Bird Hunting Outlook

California experienced near-average Sierra snowpack alongside favorable early spring moisture across northern foothill and coastal ecosystems, promoting strong native seed growth and insect production critical for early brood survival. Mountain quail and California quail in the Sierra Nevada foothills and coastal ranges benefit directly from these early-season conditions, yielding improved juvenile survival rates compared to recent dry cycles. However, extreme mid-summer heatwaves across southern arid basins and the Mojave Desert created severe thermal stress and dried ephemeral watering points, concentrating Gambel’s quail and chukar coveys around permanent springs and agricultural margins. Hunters should anticipate solid bird numbers in northern and coastal transition zones, while desert and basin outings will depend heavily on identifying stable water sources and dense thermal cover. (Note: Nonlead ammunition is mandatory statewide for all firearm hunting in California.)

For more details, visit the CDFW Upland Game Bird Hunting page: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Upland-Game-Birds