| Window | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Window 1 | 26 SEP 2026 – 31 JAN 2027 | 128d |
| Window 2 | 17 OCT 2026 – 31 JAN 2027 | 107d |
| Window 3 | 15 AUG – 04 SEP 2026 | 21d |
| Window 4 | 15 AUG 2026 – 28 FEB 2027 | 198d |
As publishedZone Q2: Sep 26, 2026-Jan 31, 2027; Zones Q1 & Q3: Oct 17, 2026-Jan 31, 2027; Archery Aug 15-Sep 4, 2026; Falconry Aug 15, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
CDFW's quail season table does not split bag/season by species -- California quail, Gambel's quail, and mountain quail share the same 'All Quail' zone windows and a combined 10/day aggregate bag. Zone Q2 opens earliest (Sep 26). Archery Aug 15-Sep 4, 2026; Falconry Aug 15, 2026-Feb 28, 2027.
California quail (the state bird) is CDFW's own most widespread upland game bird -- its official CWHR life-history account describes it as a "common, permanent resident of low and middle elevations the length of California," occupying shrub/scrub/brush, open conifer and deciduous edges, and grassland/cropland margins nearly statewide. The one real, sourced sub-state exclusion is the southeastern desert interior, where CDFW's own account states the species is "replaced by Gambel's quail." Separately, CDFW regulates all three CA quail species (California, Gambel's, mountain) under one shared three-zone season-timing system (Q1/Q2/Q3) -- this is a regulatory/administrative distinction, not a density map, and is noted here for completeness rather than as a population claim: Zone Q2 (Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino -- the north coastal wine-country counties) opens earliest (Sep 26); Zone Q1 (mountain/national-forest counties) and Zone Q3 (the rest of the state) open Oct 17.
CDFW's own 2026-27 quail and chukar hunting outlook hasn't published yet. Quail Forever's 2026 forecast calls for an average year statewide, with localized strongholds, and CDFW's own upland game bird biologist reports that California quail populations "appear to be holding steady," with anecdotal reports of earlier hatches this year. Two dry winters in a row left forb production lower in some areas, and chicks did worse where it was short. Much of the state appears to have gotten normal precipitation through August, so the coastal ranges and Central Valley look like the best bets this fall. CDFW's upland game bird coordinator also singles out one spot: "Valley quail hunting should be better in the Temblor Range this year." Don't shoot birds over water, since it may be a covey's only supply.
Steady populations after two dry winters, per CDFW's own upland game bird staff, with the coastal ranges, Central Valley, and Temblor Range as the brighter spots.
Join the waitlist and tell us what you’re working on — the planner reads it first once your access opens.
Free, invite-gated, unsubscribe anytime. See what it returns