Kansas Bird Hunting

Seasons Span September 15 – January 31, 2026

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

Season Dates

  • Pheasant:
    • Regular Season: November 8, 2025 – January 31, 2026
    • Youth Season: November 1–2, 2025
  • Quail:
    • Regular Season: November 8, 2025 – January 31, 2026
    • Youth Season: November 1–2, 2025
  • Greater Prairie Chicken:
    • Regular Season: September 15, 2025 – January 31, 2026 (in the Greater Prairie Chicken Unit; Southwest Prairie Chicken Unit is closed for lesser prairie chickens)

Required Licenses and Permits

  • Residents:
    • Hunting License: Required for ages 16–74 ($27.50), unless exempt (e.g., landowners hunting on their property, residents under 16, or over 75).
    • Kansas HIP Permit: Required for hunting migratory game birds, including quail.
  • Nonresidents:
    • Nonresident Hunting License: Required for all ages ($127.50; youth 15 and under: $42.50).
    • Kansas HIP Permit: Required for migratory game birds.
  • Hunter Education: Required for anyone born on or after July 1, 1957, unless hunting under an apprentice license (available for those 16 and older).
  • Note: Pheasants in possession for transportation must retain a foot, plumage, or other part to determine sex. A signed slip with the hunter’s name, contact information, and license number is required if transferring game to another person.

Daily Bag Limits

  • Pheasant: 4 cock pheasants
  • Quail: 8 (aggregate for all quail species)
  • Greater Prairie Chicken: 2

Possession Limits

  • Pheasant: 16 cock pheasants
  • Quail: 32
  • Greater Prairie Chicken: Varies (not explicitly stated, but typically aligns with daily bag limit unless otherwise specified)

Additional Notes

  • Access: Kansas offers over 1 million acres of Walk-In Hunting Areas (WIHA) and 300,000 acres of public land for hunting. WIHA atlases are available in August.
  • Regulations: Hunters must follow tagging requirements for transporting or gifting game, and proof of sex (e.g., wing, leg with spur, or head) must remain attached to pheasants until they reach the hunter’s residence or storage location.
  • Conservation: Improved rainfall in 2023–2024 has enhanced nesting conditions, boosting pheasant and quail populations, particularly in western Kansas. Prairie chicken hunting is best in the Smoky Hills region.

For the most up-to-date information, check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) website at ksoutdoors.com or contact authorized vendors for licenses and permits.