Quail hunting
Apply online for a permit or visit Hunting permits for more general information.
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 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 Destruction of Native Birds by Shooting in South Australia. 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.
For more permit information see Hunting permits or apply online.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Duck/quail hunting permit applications are now open. You can apply online for a permit.
You can apply for a permit online.
The online application process is recommended for those who have access to the internet. For those who do not have access to the internet, you can also apply in-person by visiting your local National Parks and Wildlife office.
National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department for Environment and Water
81-95 Waymouth Street
Adelaide 5000
Phone: (08) 8124 4972 (Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm)
Email: DEWFaunaPermitsUnit@sa.gov.au
*For all duck/quail hunting permit enquiries, please call our customer service centre team on 8207 7700 and a member of staff will come and attend.
Riverland and Murraylands Regional Office
28 Vaughan Terrace
Berri 5343
Phone: (08) 8429 9690
Email: rm.npws@sa.gov.au
Eyre and Far West Regional Office
86 Tasman Terrace
Port Lincoln 5606
Phone: (08) 8688 3111
Email: epparks@sa.gov.au
Limestone Coast Regional Office
152 Jubilee Highway East
Mt Gambier 5290
Phone: (08) 7424 5770
Email: lc.npws@sa.gov.au
Flinders and Outback Regional Office
9 Mackay Street
Port Augusta 5700
Phone: (08) 8648 5300
Email: dew.flindersandoutback@sa.gov.au
To avoid waiting times it is recommended that you call your local National Parks and Wildlife office prior to attending.
Please be aware that you are not able to apply for a permit via telephone.
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.
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.
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.
