Western Quail (Gambel's / Scaled / CA / Mtn / Mearns) in California
hunting regulations.
Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with California Department of Fish and Wildlife. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.
Western Quail (Gambel's / Scaled / CA / Mtn / Mearns) is general season in California. The agency above sets season dates, bag limits, and zone boundaries — those change yearly. Verify before you hunt.
About the species
Western quail include Gambel's, scaled, California, mountain, and Mearns's quail — five species occupying different niches across the Western US. Gambel's are desert specialists; scaled prefer grassland-shrub edge; California are coastal and chaparral birds; mountain are high-altitude conifer specialists; Mearns's are oak-juniper birds in southern Arizona's Sky Islands.
Bag limits and seasons vary by state and species. Arizona offers all five at various points. New Mexico, Texas, California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada each run quail seasons covering one or more of these species. Pointing dogs are standard; the country is often broken and steep, requiring more physical effort than typical bobwhite hunting.
Other upland birds in California
Want the picture for this species across every state? See Western Quail (Gambel's / Scaled / CA / Mtn / Mearns) regulations by state. Or browse every huntable species in California.