While some upland game bird hunting opportunities started in September, the fall hunting season gains momentum in the coming weeks, with the early pheasant archery season opening on Oct. 10 and quail, chukar and snipe opening statewide on Oct. 17.

“The hot summers of California’s mediterranean climate finally give way to fall temperatures in October, which is a welcome relief for hunters,” said Levi Souza, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Upland Game Program. “It’s shaping up to be a pretty good season for most species.”

The early archery-only pheasant season will be open from Oct. 10 to Nov. 1 (the late season will run from Dec. 28 to Jan. 24). The daily bag limit is two pheasants for the first two days of the season and three pheasants per day afterward. A hunter’s daily archery bag limit may not include more than one female pheasant. The possession limit is triple the daily bag limit.

Oct. 17 marks the much-anticipated opening of the general quail statewide. All zones will remain open until Jan. 31, 2016. The daily bag limit for quail is 10 and the possession limit is triple the daily bag.

Souza noted that quail hunters in particular may find the fall hunting season to be a good one. “While the ongoing drought has likely impacted some quail populations, our regional quail surveys showed decent reproduction this year. Anecdotally, spring and summer rains were particularly good for mountain quail reproduction at higher elevations. So despite the dry conditions, the quail hunting season should be a good one in most places this year,” he said.

Also opening on Oct. 17 are the general statewide seasons for chukar and snipe. For chukar, the daily bag limit is six and for snipe the daily bag limit is eight. The possession limit is triple the daily bag for both species.

More information on hunting quail, chukar and snipe can be found on CDFW’s website.

Upland game bird hunters must carry a current California hunting license and, if the hunter is 18 years or older, an upland game bird validation.

Please note that as of July 1, 2015, nonlead ammunition is required when hunting upland game birds on all state wildlife areas and ecological reserves. Please plan accordingly. For more information please see the CDFW nonlead ammunition webpage.