The Top States for Hunting Quail

Fall is the season for hunting quail. It is estimated that nearly 1 million people hunt quail every season. The following are some of the best states, divided by region, in which to hunt quail in the US. List was compiled by Hunting in the USA.

West

Idaho – mountainous regions and canyons with 30- to 40-degree inclines are where you will find quail in Idaho. Hunting season temperatures in the state vary from more than 100°F to below freezing. Quail are abundant in Idaho with the California quail species being one of the most common. Nearly 70% of quail hunting land is public in Idaho, so you have plenty of ground to cover.

Southwest

Oklahoma – western Oklahoma is home to five Wildlife Management Areas managed specifically for quail. Quail is abundant in these areas and chances are good you will get a few. Most private lands in the state have native grasses and shrubs, strip disking and controlled cattle grazing to provide ideal quail habitat with terrain featuring rivers, breaks, sandy soils and rolling hills.

Midwest

Iowa – quail hunting in Iowa is not as prevalent as in other areas. This factor, along with fewer hunters than other states, makes the area an attractive one for successful hunting. In Southern Iowa, you will find the state’s best hunting lands because of the woods, shrubs, fields and hay-filled pastures that are abundant. This habitat makes for good quail hunting land.

Southeast

Kentucky – In west-central Kentucky, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources owns 46,000 acres of land. The bulk of it is made up of obsolete strip mines which provide a grassy, open habitat where the quail population can thrive. In 2008, the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources reserved 23,000 acres of this land specifically for a Quail Focus Area featuring bobwhite quail. All you need to hunt in this area is the proper license and a permit to access the area.