As publishedEastern Zone: Nov. 1-13, 2026 and Nov. 16, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027; Western Zone: Nov. 16, 2026 - Feb. 10, 2027
Zoned: Eastern Zone Nov 1-13, 2026 & Nov 16, 2026-Jan 31, 2027; Western Zone Nov 16, 2026-Feb 10, 2027. No trapping permitted. Dates confirmed identically on the KDFWR PDF hunting guide and the species-specific web page.
Gated by KDFWR's Rural Mail Carrier Survey (RMCS, running continuously since 1960), which explicitly functions as the season's pre-season outlook via the annual "Quail Report." A fresh check of fw.ky.gov's Bobwhite Quail page (2026-08-19) confirms the latest linked edition is still the 2022-23 Quail Report — no 2023-24, 2024-25, or 2025-26 edition found. Fieldwork itself is real and recurs every July; this is the same "active program, no dated fresher report" pattern as ruffed grouse in this state, not a confirmed absence.