Idaho › Species › California and Bobwhite Quail
Upland game bird
When and where to hunt quail in Idaho, 2026-27
2026-27 quail dates in Idaho (California and bobwhite quail on September 15, 2026), the daily bag, the license and the IDFG brochure lines.
Photo: lamblukas (CC BY 2.0)
California and Bobwhite Quail in Idaho at a glance
The first quail opener still ahead or running in the 2026-27 rows is California and bobwhite quail on September 15, 2026, and the last quail day printed is January 31, 2027. For the quail bag, the brochure line runs: 10 daily, 30 possession.
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
California and Bobwhite Quail seasons as IDFG prints them
One line per printed quail window, earliest first.
| Hunt | Area | How issued | Dates | Limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California and bobwhite quail | Statewide | – |
| 10 daily, 30 possession in the aggregate |
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
The quail bag in Idaho
The table copies the quail limit lines from the brochures and the row bags beside them.
| Which limit | Bag |
|---|---|
| Quail | 10 daily, 30 possession |
| Bag line | 10 daily, 30 possession in the aggregate |
From bag limit (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Buying a quail license in Idaho
Idaho fees for quail; licenses and tags run on the calendar year, the trapping license to June 30.
| Item | Residency | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting license | Resident | $15.75 ($12.75 Price Lock) |
| Hunting license | Nonresident | $185.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Junior hunting license | Resident | $8.25 ($7.25 Price Lock) |
| Combination hunting & fishing | Resident | $38.75 ($33.50 Price Lock) |
| Combination hunting & fishing | Nonresident | $264.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Sportsman's Package | Resident | $144.60 ($124.25 Price Lock) |
| Small game hunting license | Nonresident | $141.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| 3-day small game license | Nonresident | $71.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
IDFG license rule as it applies to quail: A hunting license is required to hunt (including predatory and unprotected wildlife); a trapping license to trap gray wolf; a tag for every big game species.
From license and tag fees, nonresident fees and license requirements (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Before you hunt quail: the rules
A short list for quail, each line with its source.
| Subject | What it says |
|---|---|
| Technology | Quail hunters: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators). |
| Hunter orange | Quail hunters: hunter orange is recommended, required only while hunting pheasants where the Upland Game Bird Permit is required (including IDFG properties and leases) and on sponsored hunts such as organized youth hunts; minimum 36 square inches above the waist. |
| Disabled veterans | Quail hunters: Disabled American Veteran licenses, tags and permits at reduced prices (fee tables). |
From Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7, IDFG page and Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 122 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Public places for quail
The land list for quail uses IDFG WMA pages, refuge rules and Access Yes! flags.
Listed for quail in the IDFG WMA page: C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area, in Unit 38 and Unit 41.
Listed for quail in the IDFG WMA page: Big Cottonwood Wildlife Management Area, in Unit 54.
Rinker Rock Creek Ranch (Access Yes!) is flagged for upland game (Access Yes! flags).
Big Onion (Access Yes!): upland game opportunity (Access Yes! flags).
Flagged for upland game: Arimo Corp. (Access Yes!) (Access Yes! flags).
Guerry, Inc. (Access Yes!) is flagged for upland game (Access Yes! flags).
From C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area, Big Cottonwood Wildlife Management Area and Rinker Rock Creek Ranch (Access Yes!) (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Gear for a Idaho quail hunt
Four items that cover an Idaho year, from August archery elk to January chukar.
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A weathered wooden barn in a green meadow near McCallPhoto: Lance Cheung (USDA) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
A center-pivot sprinkler on a plowed field below the Teton RangePhoto: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
A rainbow over Shoshone Falls and the basalt rimPhoto: Pinchof 2.0 (CC BY 2.0)
California and Bobwhite Quail, answered
Which parts of Idaho allow quail hunting?
The quail rows name Statewide. Closed state parks are off limits for quail.
Who must wear hunter orange when hunting quail?
Quail: orange is advised, not required, and the policy reads: hunter orange is recommended, required only while hunting pheasants where the Upland Game Bird Permit is required (including IDFG properties and leases) and on sponsored hunts such as organized youth hunts; minimum 36 square inches above the waist.
What scouting technology rules apply to quail?
For quail: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).
What are the highway rules for quail hunting?
For quail: no discharge of a firearm from or across a public highway; entering private land to hunt, retrieve wildlife, fish or trap requires permission (Idaho Code 36-1603 and 18-7008).
Do I need hunter education for quail?
For quail: no hunting license may be issued to a person born after January 1, 1975, unless they previously held a hunting license in Idaho or another state or show a hunter education certificate (Idaho Code 36-411); Hunting Passport (8+ junior or adult) lets a person hunt without hunter education when accompanied by an adult license holder within normal conversation range; mentors may not accompany more than two mentored hunters.
What dates apply to quail in Idaho this season?
The quail calendar spans September 15, 2026 through January 31, 2027. California and bobwhite quail: September 15, 2026. One or more quail windows are running on November 12, 2026.
What is the daily limit on quail in Idaho?
For quail, the brochure line reads: 10 daily, 30 possession; 10 daily, 30 possession in the aggregate.
What paperwork do Idaho quail hunters carry?
A hunting license covers quail ($15.75 resident, $12.75 with Price Lock; $185.00 nonresident as of December 1, 2024); the fee table also lists a nonresident small game license at $141.75.