Wild Access Public Lands. Endless Opportunities.

Gambel's Quail

Callipepla gambelii

  • Upland Game Bird
  • huntable
Gambel's Quail
Photo: Henry · CC BY 2.0

About Gambel's Quail

Gambel's quail carry the name of 19th-century naturalist William Gambel, and males wear the bird's signature feature well — a black plume curling forward over the forehead, set above a black face and black belly patch on an otherwise bluish-gray body. Females are duller and skip the black markings entirely. Outside the breeding season, Gambel's quail bunch into coveys dozens strong and mostly stay put rather than migrate, feeding heavily on plant material, especially legumes. How well they breed each year comes down almost entirely to rainfall — more rain means more green growth, and more green growth means more chicks.

Where you can hunt it (33 properties, 60 hunt windows)

PropertyCountySeasonDatesBagWho
94 TrustFloyd Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Askew CRPLynn Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Big Bend Ranch SPPresidio Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDec 7 – Dec 10Daily Quail Statewide bag and possession limits apply.The limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Big TimberHemphill Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
BindweedFloyd Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Black Gap WMABrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Nov 14—Adult
Black Gap WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 21 – Nov 24—Adult
Black Gap WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDec 14 – Dec 24—Adult
Black Gap WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 2 – Jan 7—Adult
Black Gap WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 11 – Feb 4—Adult
Black Gap WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailFeb 8 – Feb 28—Adult
BluestemFloyd Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Jan 31—Adult
Chaparral Wildlife Management AreaDimmit County, La Salle Countyhuntinglisted as QuailOct 31 – Nov 115 daily / 45 in possessionThe limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult/Youth
Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, continuedDimmit County, La Salle Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 7 – Nov 815 daily / 45 in possessionThe limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, continuedDimmit County, La Salle Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 2 – Jan 315 daily / 45 in possessionThe limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, continuedDimmit County, La Salle Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 19 – Jan 2015 daily / 45 in possessionThe limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, continuedDimmit County, La Salle Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 26 – Jan 2715 daily / 45 in possessionThe limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Circle TreeFloyd Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Jan 31—Adult
Cobb FarmsSwisher Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Elephant Mountain WMABrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Nov 2—Adult
Elephant Mountain WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 7 – Nov 25—Adult
Elephant Mountain WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDec 14 – Jan 4—Adult
Elephant Mountain WMA, continuedBrewster Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 9 – Feb 28—Adult
Francis-DunlapFloyd Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Gene Howe WMAHemphill County, Lipscomb Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Jan 31—Adult
Gene Howe WMA, continuedW.A. (Pat) MurphyHemphill County, Lipscomb Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Jan 31—Adult
Horse CreekHemphill Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
HuddlestonDawson Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
James E. Daughtrey WMALive Oak County, McMullen Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 16 – Nov 29—Adult
James E. Daughtrey WMA, continuedLive Oak County, McMullen Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDec 11 – Dec 20—Adult
James E. Daughtrey WMA, continuedLive Oak County, McMullen Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 9 – Jan 17—Adult
Las Palomas WMAAnacua UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedArroyo Colorado UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedBaird UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedCarricitos UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedChapote UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedEbony UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedLongoria UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedTaormina UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Las Palomas WMA, continuedTucker UnitCameron County, Hidalgo County, Starr County, Willacy Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Luminant TexasRobertsonhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
MargoliesFloyd Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Matador WMACottle Countyhuntinglisted as QuailOct 24 – Oct 25—Adult/Youth
Matador WMA, continuedCottle Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Jan 31—Adult
Millhollon TrustScurry Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Noble PlayaLynn Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Playa Lakes WMATaylor Lakes UnitCastro County, Donley Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDec 5 – Dec 6Daily Quail Statewide bag and possession limits apply.The limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult/Youth
Playa Lakes WMA, continuedTaylor Lakes Unit, continuedCastro County, Donley Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDec 19 – Dec 20Daily Quail Statewide bag and possession limits apply.The limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult/Youth
Playa Lakes WMA, continuedTaylor Lakes Unit, continuedCastro County, Donley Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 2 – Jan 3Daily Quail Statewide bag and possession limits apply.The limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult/Youth
Pride CemeteryLynn Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Ramsey PlaceLubbock Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Ray Roberts PHLCooke County, Denton County, Grayson Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
San Angelo SPTom Green Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 4 – Jan 11—Adult
San Angelo SP, continuedTom Green Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 15 – Feb 28—Adult
Sandy HalfMartin Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Stafford CRPDawson Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Jan 31—Adult
Teacup Mountain WMAFoard Countyhuntinglisted as QuailNov 1 – Feb 28—Adult
Twin Buttes PHLTom Greenhuntinglisted as QuailJan 1 – Feb 21—Adult
WarrickLynn Countyhuntinglisted as QuailDates not published—Adult
Yoakum Dunes WMACochran County, Terry County, Yoakum Countyhuntinglisted as QuailJan 9 – Jan 10Daily Quail Statewide bag and possession limits apply. Blue and/or Bobwhite quail only.The limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult

Season dates and bag limits change. Always check the current Texas Parks & Wildlife regulations before you hunt.