Department of Fish and Game

Hunting Regulations from California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 300.

UPLAND GAME BIRDS

Effective September 1, 2008

(a)  Resident Upland Game Birds

(1)  General Seasons:  Shotgun; Crossbow; and Pistol/Revolver for Blue/Ruffed Grouse Only; Bag and Possession Limits and Open Areas

(see Authorized Methods of Take, Section 311)

(A) Pheasants

1. Seasons 2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3. Area:
Nov. 8 - Dec. 21 Bag Limit:
2 males per day for the first 2 days of the season; 3 males per day after the first two days of the season
Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit 		Statewide

(B) Quail

[including California (valley) quail, mountain quail, and Gambel's (desert) quail]
1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area Zone Descriptions:
a.  Early Mountain Quail Season (Mountain Quail only, Zone Q1): Sep. 13 - Oct. 17 Bag Limit:
10 quail in any combination of species per day
Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit		 a. Zone Q1:
The early mountain quail season hunting zone includes the counties of Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, and those portions of Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Tuolomne, Tulare, and Yuba counties lying east of the western boundary of the national forests.
General Quail Season (All species, Zone Q1): Oct. 18 - Jan. 25
b.  Early Coastal Season (All species, Zone Q2): Sep. 27 - Jan. 25 b. Zone Q2:
The early coastal quail season (all species) hunting zone includes the counties of Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino.
c.  Balance of the State Season (All species, Zone Q3): Oct. 18 - Jan. 25 c. Zone Q3:
The balance of the state season (all species) hunting zone includes the remaining land area not included in Zone Q2 the counties of Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino).

(C)  Chukar

(Red-Legged Partridges)

1.  Seasons 2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3. Area:
Oct. 18 - Jan. 25 Bag Limit:
6 chukar per day
Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit 		Statewide

(D)  Sage Grouse

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3. Area Open Zone Descriptions:
Sep. 13 - 14

East Lassen and Central Lassen zones:

Bag Limit:
2 sage grouse per day, 2 per season

Possession Limit:
2 sage grouse per season

a. East Lassen Zone:
That portion of Lassen County beginning at the intersection of Highway 395 and County Road 502 in the town of Ravendale; north and east on County Road 502 to County Road 526 (Buckhorn Road); east on County Road 526 to the Nevada state line; south along the Nevada state line to its intersection with County Road 320 (Wendel-Flanigan Road); northwest on County Road 320 to its intersection with Highway 395 between Wendel and Litchfield north on Highway 395 to the point of beginning.

b. Central Lassen Zone: - 8 -
That portion of Lassen County beginning at the intersection of Highway 139 and County Road 513 (Termo-Grasshopper Road); east on County Road 513 to its intersection with County Road 523 (Westside Road); north on County Road 523 to its intersection with County Road 525 (Brockman Road); east on County Road 525 to its intersection with Highway 395; south on Highway 395 to its intersection with Highway 36 in the town of Johnstonville; west on Highway 36 to its intersection with Highway 139 in Susanville; north on Highway 139 to the point of beginning.

North Mono and South Mono zones:

Bag Limit:
1 sage grouse per day, 1 per season

Possession Limit:
1 sage grouse per season

c. North Mono Zone:
That portion on Mono County beginning at the intersection of Highway 182 and the California-Nevada state line; south and east along the California-Nevada state line to Highway 167; west along Highway 167 to Highway 395; north along Highway 395 to Highway 182 at Bridgeport; north along Highway 182 to the point of beginning.

d. South Mono Zone:
That portion of Mono County beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 395; north along U.S. Highway 6 to the intersection of U.S. Highway 120; west along U.S. Highway 120 to the intersection of the Benton Crossing Road; west along Benton Crossing Road to the intersection of Owens River Road; west along Owens River Road to the intersection of U.S. Highway 395; south along U.S. Highway 395 to the point of beginning.

(E)  Blue and Ruffed Grouse
1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area Open Zone:
Sep. 13 - Oct. 13

Bag Limit:  2 grouse per day

Bag Limit Makeup:
• up to 2 blue grouse
• up to 2 ruffed grouse
• or one of each

Possession Limit:  
• double the daily bag limit 

The open hunting zone for blue and ruffed grouse includes the following counties:  Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba.  All other counties are closed to the taking of blue or ruffed grouse.

(F)  White-Tailed Ptarmigan

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area Open Zone: 
Sep. 13 - 21

Bag Limit:
2 ptarmigan per day, 2 per season

Possession Limit:
2 per season

The open hunting zone for ptarmigan includes Alpine County and that portion of Mono County lying north and west of a line beginning at the intersection of Highway 203 and the Madera County line; east on Highway 203 to Highway 395; and north on Highway 395 to the Nevada state line.

(G)  Wild Turkeys

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3. Hunting Area:
a.  Fall Season: Nov. 8 - 23

Bag Limit:
1 either-sex turkey per day, 1 per season

Possession Limit: 1 per season

 Statewide including State Game Refuge 1G, located in Tehama County

b. Spring Season: Mar. 28 - May 3, 2009

Additional Spring Season for Hunters with Junior Hunting Licenses: May 4 - 17, 2009

Bag Limit:
1 bearded turkey per day, 3 per season.  No person shall take more than a total of 3 turkeys during the general, archery, and additional season for junior hunters, combined.

Possession Limit:
3 per season

(A bearded turkey is one having a beard visible through the breast feathers.)

(2)  Archery Seasons, Bag and Possession Limits and Open Areas

(see Authorized Methods of Take, sections 311 and 354)

(A)  Pheasants

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area
During general season and this archery-only season:
Nov. 8 - Jan. 6

Bag Limit:
2 pheasants per day for the first 2 days of the season; 3 pheasants per day after the first two days of the season

Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit; the daily archery bag may contain not more than one female pheasant

Statewide

(B)  Quail

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3. Area
During general season and this archery-only season:
Aug. 16 - Sep. 5

Bag Limit:
10 quail in any combination of species per day

Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit

See section 300(1)(B)(3) for Zone descriptions

(C) Chukar
1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area
During general season and this archery-only season:
Aug. 16 - Sep. 5

Bag Limit:
6 chukar

Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit

Statewide

(D) Sage Grouse
1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area
During general season

East Lassen and Central Lassen zones:

Bag Limit:  2 sage grouse per day, 2 per season

Possession Limit:  2 sage grouse per season

North Mono and South Mono zones:

Bag Limit:  1 sage grouse per day, 1 per season

Possession Limit:  1 sage grouse per season

See open zone descriptions for details [subsection 300(a)(1)(D)3.], which include portions of Lassen, Mono, and Inyo counties.  Hunting by free permit only; see permit process section for details.

(E)  Blue and Ruffed Grouse

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area
During general season and this archery-only season:
Aug. 16 - Sep. 5

Bag Limit:  2 grouse per day
Bag Limit Makeup:
• up to 2 blue grouse
• up to 2 ruffed grouse
• or one of each

Possession Limit:
• double the daily bag limit 

See open zone descriptions for details [subsection 300(a)(1)(E)3.], which include northern and eastern portions of the state

(F)  White-Tailed Ptarmigan

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area
During general season

Bag Limit:
2 ptarmigan per day, 2 per season

Possession Limit: 2 per season

See open zone descriptions for details [subsection 300(a)(1)(F)3.], which include portions of Alpine and Mono counties

(G)  Wild Turkeys

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area
a.  Fall Season: During general season

Bag Limit:
1 either-sex turkey per day, 1 per season

Possession Limit: 1 per season

Statewide including State Game Refuge 1G, located in Tehama County
b.  Spring Season: During general season and this archery-only season:
May 4 - 17, 2009

Bag Limit:
1 bearded turkey per day, 3 per season. No person shall take more than a total of 3 turkeys during the general, archery, and additional season for junior hunters, combined.

Possession Limit: 3 per season 

(A bearded turkey is one having a beard visible through the breast feathers.)

(3)  Falconry Seasons, Bag and Possession Limits and Open Areas

(see Authorized Methods of Take, Section 311)

(A)  Pheasants
(B)  Quail
(C)  Chukar
(D)  Blue and Ruffed Grouse
(E)  White-Tailed Ptarmigan

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Hawking Hours 3.  Area
Aug. 16 - Feb. 28

Bag and Possession Limits:  same as general season regulations by species.  The daily falconry bag may contain birds of either sex.

Hawking hours are sunrise to sunset.

See open zone descriptions for details on each species [subsection 300(a)(1)]

(F)  Sage Grouse

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Hawking Hours 3.  Area
Nov. 1 - Dec. 30

East Lassen and Central Lassen zones:

Bag Limit:
2 sage grouse per day, 2 per season

Possession Limit:
2 sage grouse per season

North Mono and South Mono zones:

Bag Limit:
1 sage grouse per day, 2 per season

Possession Limit:
1 sage grouse per season

Hawking hours are sunrise to sunset.

See open zone descriptions [subsection 300(a)(1)(D)3.]; hunting by free permit only; see permit process section for details [subsection (300(a)(1)(D)5.].

(G)  Wild Turkeys

1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Hawking Hours 3.  Area:
a.  Fall Season: During general season Bag Limit:
1 either-sex turkey per day
Possession Limit:
1 per season 		Statewide including State Game Refuge 1G, located in Tehama County
b.  Spring Season: During general season

Bag Limit:
1 bearded turkey per day

Possession Limit:
3 per season

(A bearded turkey is one having a beard visible through the breast feathers.)

(b) Migratory Upland Game Birds

(1) Shotgun, Archery, and Falconry Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits

(see Authorized Methods of Take, Section 507)

(A) Band-Tailed Pigeons
1.  Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area Open Zone Descriptions
a.  Northern Zone: Sep. 20 - 28

Bag Limit:
2 band-tailed pigeons per day

Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit

a. Northern Zone:
Includes the counties of Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity.
b.  Southern Zone: Dec. 20 - 28 b. Southern Zone:
Includes the balance of the state not included in the northern zone described above.

(B) Doves

(Mourning doves, white-winged doves, spotted doves, Eurasian collared-doves, and ringed turtle doves)

1. Seasons 2.  Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3.  Area
September 1 - 15
and
Nov. 8 - Dec. 22

Bag Limit:
Spotted doves, Eurasian collared-doves, and ringed turtle doves: no bag limit

Mourning doves and white-winged doves: 10 doves per day in aggregate

Possession Limit
Spotted doves, Eurasian collared-doves, and ringed turtle doves: no possession limit 

Mourning doves and white-winged doves:
double the daily bag limit in aggregate

Note:  There is no open hunting season on common ground-doves, ruddy ground-doves, and Inca doves.

Statewide for mourning doves, spotted doves, ringed turtle-doves, and Eurasian collared-doves.

White-winged doves may be taken only in Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

(C)  Common Snipe
1. Seasons 2. Daily Bag and Possession Limits 3. Area
Oct. 18 - Feb. 1

Bag Limit:
8 per day

Possession Limit:
double the daily bag limit

 Statewide