Upland Game Bird Hunting On this page Regulations Licensing Hunts Maps Publications Hunter Survey Reports Species Profiles Related Information Regulations Regulations Booklet (PDF)(opens in new tab) Nonlead Ammunition is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California. 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Pheasant Season / Area Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit General / Statewide Nov 14 - Dec 27 2 males per day for first two days of the season; 3 males per day after the first two days of the season. Triple the daily bag Archery Only Oct 10 - Nov 1 Dec 28 - Jan 24 2 pheasants per day for first two days of the season; 3 pheasants per day after the first two days of the season. The daily archery bag may contain not more than 1 female pheasant. Triple the daily bag Falconry Aug 15 - Feb 28 2 pheasants per day for first two days of the season; 3 pheasants per day after the first two days of the season. The daily falconry bag may contain birds of either sex. Hawking hours are Sunrise to Sunset. Triple the daily bag. 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Quail Season / Area (Zone Map (PDF)(opens in new tab)) Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit Zone Q1 (Mountain Quail Only) Sep 12 - Oct 16 10 Triple the daily bag Zone Q1 (All Quail) Oct 17 - Jan 31 Zone Q2 (All Quail) Sep 26 - Jan 31 Zone Q3 (All Quail) Oct 17 - Jan 31 Early Season for Hunters with Junior Hunting Licenses in Mojave National Preserve October 3 - 4 Archery Only Aug 15 - Sep 4 Falconry Aug 15 - Feb 28 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Chukar Season / Area Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit General / Statewide Oct 17 - Jan 31 6 Triple the daily bag Archery Only Aug 15 - Sep 4 Falconry Aug 15 - Feb 28 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Greater Sage-grouse Season / Area Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit General, Archery / North Mono Zone only (hunting by permit only) Closed 0 permits adopted for all four hunt zones. Sage-grouse hunting for general, archery, and falconry seasons is by permit only. See instructions Falconry Closed 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Sooty (Blue) / Ruffed Grouse Season / Area (Zone Map (PDF)(opens in new tab)) Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit General Sep 12 - Oct 12 2; All of one species or mixed Triple the daily bag Archery Only Aug 15- Sep 4 Falconry Aug 15 - Feb 28 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - White-tailed Ptarmigan Season / Area Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit General & Archery / Statewide Sep 12 - 20 2 per day 2 per season Falconry / Statewide Aug 15 - Feb 28 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Wild Turkey Season / Area Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit Fall Nov 14 - Dec 13 1 either sex 2 per season Spring General Mar 27 - May 2, 2027 1 bearded 3 per season, combined Archery Only May 3 - May 16, 2027 Additional Junior Mar 20 - 21, 2027& May 3 - 16, 2027 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Dove Species Season / Area Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit Mourning Dove and White-winged Dove Statewide Sep 1 - 15 & Nov 14 - Dec 28 15, up to 10 of which may be white-winged doves Triple the daily bag Spotted Dove, and Ringed Turtle Dove No limit Eurasian Collared-dove All Year No limit 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Band-tailed Pigeon Season / Area (Zone Map (PDF)(opens in new tab)) Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit North Sep 19 - 27 2per day Triple the daily bag South Dec 19 - 27 2026 - 2027 Seasons and Limits - Snipe Season / Area Season Dates Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit General / Statewide Oct 17 - Jan 31 8 Triple the daily bag Licensing Requirements for Hunting Upland Game Birds Hunting License Upland Game Bird Validation, unless hunting under the authority of a Junior Hunting License Harvest Information Program (HIP) Validation, if hunting for ducks, dove, gallinules, geese, band-tailed pigeon, black brant, coots, or snipe. A HIP validation can be obtained at no cost wherever a hunting license is purchased - more information about HIP Purchasing Licenses or Validations Hunting License Fees Purchase a Hunting License or Validation Online Collectible Duck and Upland Game Bird Stamps Hunting License FAQs Hunts Special Hunts SHARE Program Private Land Management Program Maps Quail Zone Map (PDF)(opens in new tab) Sooty (Blue) / Ruffed Grouse Zone Map (PDF)(opens in new tab) Band-tailed Pigeon Zone Map (PDF)(opens in new tab) American Crow Zone Map (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2025 Imperial Valley Dove Hunt Fields (PDF)(opens in new tab) Publications Mourning Dove Banding Report (PDF)(opens in new tab) Dove Identification (PDF)(opens in new tab) Guide to Hunting Quail in California (PDF)(opens in new tab) Guide to Hunting Wild Turkey in California (PDF)(opens in new tab) California Hunting Digest Game Take Hunter Survey Reports Reports will be added to this page as they become available. 1950 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1951 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1952 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1953 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1954 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1955 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1956 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1957 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1958 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1959 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1960 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1961 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1962 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1963 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1964 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1965 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1966 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1967 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1968 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1969 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1970 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1971 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1972 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1973 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1974 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1975 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1976 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1977 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1978 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1979 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1980 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1981 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1982 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1983 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1984 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1985 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1986 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1987 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1988 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1989 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1990 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1991 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1992 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1993 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1994 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1995 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1996 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1997 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1998 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 1999 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2000 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2001 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2002 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2003 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2004 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2005 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2006 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2007 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2008 (PDF)(opens in new tab) * 2010 (PDF)(opens in new tab) ** 2014 (PDF)(opens in new tab) *** 2016 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2018 (PDF)(opens in new tab) 2020 (PDF) 2022 (PDF) 2023 (PDF) *The 2009 hunter survey was not performed due to state budget constraints. **The 2011-2013 hunter surveys were not performed while CDFW developed methods for estimating harvest through the new Automated License Data System (ALDS). ***Beginning in 2015, the Upland Program chose to conduct the survey biennially. For questions or further information about this data, contact Ian.Dwight@wildlife.ca.gov. Species Profiles Band-tailed Pigeon Pheasant Sage Grouse Related Information Search for a Licensed Hunting Guide(opens in new tab) Upland Game Bird Account Grant Program Sage Grouse Hunting