| Window | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Window 1 | 12 SEP – 16 OCT 2026 | 35d |
| Window 2 | 17 OCT 2026 – 31 JAN 2027 | 107d |
| Window 3 | 26 SEP 2026 – 31 JAN 2027 | 128d |
| Window 4 | 15 AUG – 04 SEP 2026 | 21d |
| Window 5 | 15 AUG 2026 – 28 FEB 2027 | 198d |
As publishedZone Q1 mountain-only: Sep 12-Oct 16, 2026; then All Quail Oct 17, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 (Q1 & Q3) / Sep 26, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 (Q2); Archery Aug 15-Sep 4, 2026; Falconry Aug 15, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Zone Q1 has an early mountain-quail-only window (Sep 12-Oct 16, 2026) before the general 'All Quail' season opens there (Oct 17, 2026-Jan 31, 2027). Mountain quail is also legal under the combined all-quail bag in Zone Q2 (Sep 26, 2026-Jan 31, 2027) and Zone Q3 (Oct 17, 2026-Jan 31, 2027). Archery Aug 15-Sep 4, 2026; Falconry Aug 15, 2026-Feb 28, 2027.
Mountain quail's real distribution is montane. CDFW's own CWHR account describes it as a common to uncommon resident, found typically in most major montane habitats of the state, seasonally migrating on foot from mountain forest down to foothill oak woodland/chaparral in fall and back upslope in spring. This correlates with the regulatory structure: Zone Q1 (the mountain/national-forest counties) is the only zone with a mountain-quail-only early season (Sep 12-Oct 16, 2026) before the general all-quail season opens there, reflecting that this is the species' core zone. A smaller, disjunct set of populations also persists in desert mountain ranges of eastern California, corroborated by a California Partners in Flight species account and by Animal Diversity Web, which separately names a distinct desert subspecies.
Provisional: CDFW's own 2026-27 quail and chukar hunting outlook hasn't published yet. CDFW's own upland game bird biologist, quoted in Quail Forever's 2026 forecast, says mountain quail populations "appear to be holding steady," and the forecast expects an average year statewide. The only numbers so far are wing-barrel age ratios of 0.7 and 8 young birds per adult at two sites, which the biologist cautions are too few and too far apart to predict from. Two dry winters cut forb production and chick survival in some areas. Mountain quail live above 4,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada, Klamath, and Coast Ranges. The biologist recommends country that burned between 2021 and 2023, and birds above 5,000 feet are likely to drop to lower elevations with snowfall, so work the snowline once winter sets in. As of August, large fires were burning northwest of Susanville, in Kings Canyon National Park, near Tahoe, and in Angeles National Forest, so check fire maps and closures before heading out. Zone Q1's mountain-quail-only season runs Sep 12 to Oct 16, ahead of the general quail opener there.
Populations holding steady after two dry winters, per CDFW's own upland game bird biologist, with no reliable survey figure yet.
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