| Window | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Season | 15 SEP 2026 – 31 JAN 2027 | 139d |
As publishedSept 15, 2026 - Jan 31, 2027
Aggregate daily/possession bag shared with bobwhite quail.Most common and widespread quail species in Idaho, found below ~3,500 ft along rivers/streams with brushy cover.
California quail is Idaho's most abundant quail species by far, comprising almost all of the state's total quail harvest. IDFG's own hunting-information page describes the population as dispersed across three of the state's seven administrative regions — north to the Palouse Prairie (Panhandle/Clearwater border country), south-central Idaho (Magic Valley), and west to the Oregon border (Southwest region) — with good populations concentrated along rivers and streams with brushy cover below 3,500 feet elevation. Snow depth and winter food availability are the limiting factor on distribution statewide.
Idaho's California quail season runs September 15, 2026 through January 31, 2027, with a shared daily bag of 10 (aggregate with bobwhite quail) and 30 in possession. IDFG's statewide forecast, published September 4, 2026, describes quail in good numbers across most of the state's range this year, with solid adult numbers or good brood recruitment reported in the Clearwater, Southwest, and Magic Valley regions. The one caution is brood size in the Southwest region, described as on the small side, matching IDFG's own statewide read that production will likely be down this year in the southern part of the state. The Panhandle region remains the weak spot, where quail stay uncommon outside its southern edge.
Good carryover adult numbers across most of Idaho's quail range, offset by smaller broods this year in the drier southern part of the state.
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