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Small game · 2026-27
Georgia Bobwhite Quail Hunting
Wild bobwhite season runs Nov 14, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, twelve birds a day on private land and three on WMAs, VPAs and the national forest. Dates, limits, land and rules for bobwhites, all from the 2026-27 Georgia guide.
Photo: larus10 (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Licensed shooting preserves may run quail hunts Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027, and falconers get Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027. Quail are the bird of the longleaf pine and old-field country in southwest and south-central Georgia. WRD holds quota quail hunts on some WMAs; applications close Oct. 15.
Bobwhite Quail at a glance
- Methods: Rimfire .22 or smaller, muzzleloaders, any air gun, shotguns (3.5 in. shells, No. 2 or smaller shot); falconry with permit.
- Remarks: Nov. 14-Feb. 28; falconry Oct. 1-Mar. 15; shooting preserves Oct. 1-Mar. 31.
Bobwhite Quail bag and possession limits
These quail limits are statewide unless a WMA listing sets lower ones.
Bobwhite quail
12 per day statewide (and falconry); 3 per person per day on WMAs, VPAs and National Forest lands.
Bobwhite Quail dates by zone and land type
Each of the 3 rows below is a separate quail segment; the status column checks it against today.
| Segment | Where | Opening | Closing | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 107 | |
| Falconry | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | 166 | |
| Licensed shooting preserves | Licensed shooting preserves | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 182 |
Read these quail notes too
- 12 per day; 3 per person per day on WMAs, VPAs and National Forest lands. Bobwhite may be hunted Oct. 1-Mar. 31 on licensed shooting preserves.
- Exception allowing bobwhite quail hunting on licensed shooting preserves Oct. 1-Mar. 31.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Bobwhite Quail on WMAs and federal land
17 areas list quail, from Chickasawhatchee WMA down.
| Public area | Kind | County | Region | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickasawhatchee WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Dougherty, Calhoun, Baker | Albany | 19,700 |
| Clarks Hill WMA – East | Wildlife Management Area | McDuffie, Wilkes, Lincoln | Thomson | 10,224 |
| Silver Lake WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Decatur | Albany | 9,200 |
| Di-Lane WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Burke | Thomson | 8,100 |
| Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Hilliard Plantation Tract | Wildlife Management Area | Marion | Albany | 8,089 |
| Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Almo Tract | Wildlife Management Area | Talbot, Marion | Albany | 6,700 |
| Clybel WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Jasper, Newton | Thomson | 6,700 |
| Lanahassee Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Webster | Albany | 4,440 |
| Sandhills WMA: West | Wildlife Management Area | Taylor | Albany | 2,500 |
| River Creek, The Rolf & Alexandra Kauka WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Thomas, Grady | Albany | 2,437 |
| Flint River WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Dooly | Albany | 2,400 |
| Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Fort Perry Tract | Wildlife Management Area | Marion | Albany | 2,100 |
| Elmodel WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Baker | Albany | 1,600 |
| Alexander WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Burke | Thomson | 1,300 |
| Sandhills WMA: East | Wildlife Management Area | Taylor | Albany | 870 |
More public land for bobwhites
Albany Nursery WMA (300 ac) · Okefenokee NWR – Cowhouse Unit
Areas and species lists from WRD’s 2026-27 area listings, the WRD WMA layers and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-13. Harvest by area from WRD Game Check.
Bobwhite Quail rules in Georgia
Before going after bobwhites, check these license, hour and bait rules.
Licenses and fees
| License or permit | Res. | Nonres. |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| Sportsman's License | $65.00 | $400.00 |
| Shooting Preserve License | $12.00 | $12.00 |
Shooting hours
For bobwhites, legal light is 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; the Outdoors GA app shows the daily times.
Orange rule
Private land quail hunting has no orange rule of its own; WMA hunts during deer gun dates do.
Bait rules
Keep 200 yards from any bait when hunting bobwhites, and wait 10 days after it is removed.
Sundays
The guide imposes no Sunday restriction on bobwhites. Individual WMAs, refuges and Corps lakes may.
Shooting preserves
Pen-raised birds on licensed preserves need a hunting license or shooting preserve license; bobwhite quail may be hunted Oct. 1-Mar. 31 on licensed preserves.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 guide, licenses and fees and hunting information, checked October 13, 2026. Georgia hunting laws · License guide.
Legal equipment and methods for bobwhites
What you can carry for bobwhites, and what Georgia bans.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| Small game & furbearers | .22-cal. or smaller rimfire rifles/handguns; any muzzleloading firearm; any caliber air rifle/air gun; shotguns with shells 3.5 in. or shorter and No. 2 or smaller shot. Fox and bobcat: centerfire .17-cal.+ also legal (not on WMA small game dates). | Centerfire rifles for other small game; centerfire rifles on WMA small game dates day or night. |
| Air guns | Air rifles .30-cal.+ and air bows (unignited compressed gas/air) legal for deer/bear during primitive weapons and firearms seasons and for turkey; any caliber air rifle for small game. | – |
Bobwhite Quail methods and restrictions
Shooting preserves
Pen-raised birds on licensed preserves need a hunting license or shooting preserve license; bobwhite quail may be hunted Oct. 1-Mar. 31 on licensed preserves.
Dogs on WMAs
No big game, feral hog or coyote hunting with dogs unless specified; dogs marked with owner name/address/phone; raccoons with trail dogs only; rabbit trail dogs limited to beagles, bassets and dachshunds; dogs picked up by noon the day after a night hunt.
Training dogs on private land
Hunting license required (except own/immediate family land); no closed season; unlawful to run deer with dogs except in dog-deer season or to take game while training except in season.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Bring this to Bobwhite Quail country
Chosen for the game hunted here; listings load when you click.
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Common Georgia quail questions
Do I need a license to hunt quail on a preserve?
Pen-raised birds on licensed preserves need a hunting license or shooting preserve license; bobwhite quail may be hunted Oct. 1-Mar. 31 on licensed preserves. The Shooting Preserve License costs $12.00.
What is the quail limit on a WMA?
Three per person per day on WMAs, VPAs and national forest land; twelve elsewhere.
What are the bait rules for bobwhites?
Keep 200 yards from any bait when hunting bobwhites, and wait 10 days after it is removed.
Are bobwhites open on Sundays this year?
The guide imposes no Sunday restriction on bobwhites. Individual WMAs, refuges and Corps lakes may.
Which equipment is legal for bobwhites?
Small game & furbearers: .22-cal. or smaller rimfire rifles/handguns; any muzzleloading firearm; any caliber air rifle/air gun; shotguns with shells 3.5 in. or shorter and No. 2 or smaller shot. Fox and bobcat: centerfire .17-cal.+ also legal (not on WMA small game dates).
When does Georgia quail season start?
WRD sets bobwhites at hunting Nov 14, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027; licensed shooting preserves Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 (Licensed shooting preserves).
What is the Georgia limit on bobwhites?
12 per day statewide (and falconry); 3 per person per day on WMAs, VPAs and National Forest lands.
What license do I need for bobwhites in Georgia?
Required or relevant, at resident prices: Hunting License ($15.00); Sportsman's License ($65.00); Shooting Preserve License ($12.00).
How many Georgia public areas list bobwhites?
17 public areas, including Chickasawhatchee WMA, Clarks Hill WMA – East and Silver Lake WMA.
Are there hour limits on bobwhites?
For bobwhites, legal light is 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; the Outdoors GA app shows the daily times.
Is orange or blaze pink required for bobwhites?
Private land quail hunting has no orange rule of its own; WMA hunts during deer gun dates do.
Last word on bobwhites
Before the quail trip, confirm your license, the land rules and the orange rule for the segment you hunt.
Other photos on this page: Wildreturn (CC BY 2.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).