Quail hunting
DUCK/QUAIL HUNTING PERMITS ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE.
Permit applications will be available prior to the opening of the season. This page will be updated when permits are available.
For more general information about permits, see Hunting permits.
An open season for quail hunting has been declared for South Australia in 2026.
This page provides a summary of important information on quail hunting including permitted species and areas for hunting, what restrictions apply and links to permit information.
Quail species
Only stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) may be hunted during the 2026 quail open season.
All other quail species are not permitted for hunting (e.g. brown quail, king quail and button quail).
The taking of eggs of any quail species during the open season is prohibited.
Season dates
The open season for stubble quail hunting begins at sunrise on Saturday 25 April 2026 and ends at sunset on Sunday 2 August 2026.
Season times
Shooting is permitted between sunrise and sunset, as specified by Geoscience Australia, on any given day of the open season.
Daily bag limit
On any day of the open season, a person must not take more than fifteen (15) stubble quail.
Hunting locations
The stubble quail open season applies to the whole of South Australia excluding:
- all reserves and sanctuaries constituted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
- all wilderness protection areas and all wilderness protection zones constituted under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992
- all sanctuary zones within any marine park established under the Marine Parks Act 2007
Hunting is permitted on private land or dedicated Crown land with the written permission of the landholder. Use this landowner permission template to seek permission.
Humane hunting requirements
Any hunting of game birds during open season must comply with the Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Native Birds in South Australia - Open Season Hunting. This document outlines the minimum standards and most appropriate, humane method of destroying native animals to minimise pain and suffering.
Firearms
Stubble quail can only be taken with a firearm that:
- has a smooth bore diameter of 19 mm or less (12 gauge)
- can be raised and held at arms’ length and fired from the shoulder with no other support
- has a capacity of three (3) cartridges or less, or has a plugged magazine preventing more than three (3) cartridges from being loaded.
Ammunition
Stubble quail must not be taken with shot of a diameter more than 4.1 mm.
Further information on the different shot sizes may be found at Game Hunting in Victoria - Chapter 3 ‘A General Guide to International Shot Sizes’.
Permits
For each open season, a Quail Hunting Permit is required to hunt or assist someone to hunt stubble quail.
Permits are not currently available. Permit applications will be available prior to the opening of the season. For more information about permits see hunting permits.
Mandatory Hunting Survey
Open season hunting permit holders are required to complete a hunting survey within 30 days of the conclusion of the open season. This survey provides useful information on species populations and distribution valuable towards the declaration of future open seasons.
Contact us
For more information about quail hunting, please contact the Fauna Permits Unit.
Please note, duck/quail hunting permits are not currently available. This page will be updated when permit applications open.
Frequently asked questions
Duck/quail hunting permit application will open prior to the open season.
Please check back for updates.
You can find current wildlife permit fees by permit type.
On any day of the 2026 open season, a maximum bag limit of fifteen (15) stubble quail has been set.
Find more information on bag limits and species.
Seasonal data and surveys are undertaken each year to understand wetland and habitat conditions, climatic forecasts and bird species abundance.
The Department for Environment and Water uses this information to provide recommendations on bag limits and appropriate hunting locations that allow the open season to be as sustainable as possible.
The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water uses this information along with stakeholder perspectives, long-term climatic data and any other advice to determine bag limits for the given year.
Yes. In 2024, it became mandatory for duck and quail hunters to submit a hunting survey. This provides accurate information on hunter activity and take.
The survey must be submitted within 30 days of the conclusion of the open season.
You can complete the survey online or manually via email.
Find more information on hunting surveys.
The Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) is managed nationwide by the Victorian Game Management Authority (GMA) and is designed to ensure that hunters can accurately identify waterfowl.
As of 2025, the WIT can only be completed online. The test remains the same, the only change is that participants must complete the test online instead of in-person.
The online test is viewed as a video, consisting of 22 multiple-choice questions. Applicants have 15 minutes to complete all 22 multiple-choice questions. A species of waterfowl is viewed for approximately five seconds and applicants must select the correct waterbird species and its hunting status before moving to the next question. The online test also includes a mandatory 90-minute training component.
Participants wishing to take the online WIT will need to create a My Game Licence (MyGL) account and complete the online test via the Game Management Authority website: https://licensing.gma.vic.gov.au/
Further information on how to create a MyGL account can be found here: instructions on how to set up a MyGL account - Game Management Authority
A score of 85% or greater is required to obtain a pass (i.e. 57 out of 66), provided that the applicant also correctly identifies all non-game species.
Applicants who complete the test will receive an email to their nominated email address with their test results. A copy of the test results must be retained as evidence that a WIT has been completed and must be provided to the relevant authority within 5 business days if requested to do so. Please note that test results will no longer include a WIT number. The results will include a grade only.
To discuss your WIT results, contact the Game Management Authority on 136 186.
Applicants simply need to tick a box to state that they have successfully completed the WIT, have obtained the relevant grade for hunting in SA and are able to provide evidence of this to the relevant authority within 5 business days, if requested to do so.
The Game Management Authority do not currently offer an alternative manual option for individuals who do not have access to the internet.
If you need assistance, we encourage you to reach out to a friend or family member who can assist with internet access, contact your local hunting organisation or attend your local library.
Participants can complete the test as many times as required to obtain a pass grade at no additional cost.
The WIT only needs to be completed once. Hunters who are applying for an open season hunting permit in SA are not required to pass the test again, unless required to do so. This may happen if a hunter is convicted of shooting non-game birds.
It is acknowledged that whilst not everyone is supportive of native bird hunting, it is regulated to ensure that hunting is done in a humane and sustainable way.
In determining the conditions for native bird hunting in South Australia, the Department for Environment and Water assesses climate data and forecasts, landscape and wetland condition, and waterfowl abundance.
The potential impacts of hunting activities on the conservation and sustainability of waterfowl populations and stakeholder feedback are also considered as part of the assessment process.
