Nevada Quail & Grouse Season 2026-27: Small Game Dates

Q: When does quail season open in Nevada in 2026-27?

California Quail, Gambel's Quail and Mountain Quail: October 17, 2026 to February 7, 2027, varying by zone across 3 rows in the agency table. Nevada Department of Wildlife publishes it under that name, and the zone table on this page was read from its own page on September 19, 2026.

Q: When is grouse season in Nevada?

Blue (Dusky and Sooty) and Ruffed Grouse: September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. Nevada Department of Wildlife publishes it under that name, and the zone table on this page was read from its own page on September 19, 2026.

Q: Does Nevada have a pheasant season?

Pheasant: November 1, 2026 to November 30, 2026. Nevada Department of Wildlife publishes it under that name, and the zone table on this page was read from its own page on September 19, 2026.

Q: Which small game zone am I in, in Nevada?

Nevada sets different dates by zone for at least one species, and the boundaries are the agency's own, drawn along interstates, highways and county lines. Your zone is determined from the agency's own map: Nevada Department of Wildlife publishes the official zone map and boundary descriptions, linked from this page.

Q: Where are the bag limits, legal methods and licence rules for Nevada small game?

At Nevada Department of Wildlife, whose regulations page is linked on this page. Those rules are legally binding, change annually and vary by species, by zone and by land ownership. This page carries the season windows themselves, with source and read date attached.

Q: Can these Nevada small game dates change?

Yes. Agencies amend season orders, add or drop zones, and occasionally correct their own published tables mid season. This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 19, 2026, says so in the copy, and links the exact Nevada Department of Wildlife page it read on September 19, 2026. Treat the agency page as the final word on the morning you hunt.

This page covers the 2026-27 season year. Dates were read from the agency sources linked below, last checked September 19, 2026. Seasons change annually and agencies correct their own pages; confirm against the linked agency page before you hunt.

November 1, 2026 to November 30, 2026

Pheasant

published

October 17, 2026 to February 7, 2027

Quail

published

September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026

Grouse

published

November 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027

Rabbit

published

No open season

Squirrel

no season

3 zone rows

Zone structure

as the agency draws it

Five seasons, one state

Nevada small game seasons, 2026-27

“When does small game season open” is five questions wearing one coat. Nevada Department of Wildlife dates California, Gambel's and mountain quail, chukar and Hungarian partridge, blue (dusky and sooty) and ruffed grouse, sage-grouse, Himalayan snowcock, pheasant, cottontail rabbits and white-tailed jackrabbits separately, so each species is below under the agency’s own name for it, with the zone rows exactly as the agency lists them.

Pheasant

published

Pheasant runs November 1, 2026 to November 30, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada pheasant, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	November 1, 2026	November 30, 2026

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

Nevada's pheasant season is the month of November statewide, set by the Board of Wildlife Commissioners in the same two year regulation that dates the rest of the state's upland game. Nevada holds no youth pheasant season; its youth seasons cover partridge, quail and rabbits.

Opening day, the daily limit and the full season calendar are on the Nevada pheasant season page.

California Quail, Gambel's Quail and Mountain Quail

published

California Quail, Gambel's Quail and Mountain Quail runs October 17, 2026 to February 7, 2027 across all zones.

Nevada california quail, gambel's quail and mountain quail, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
California Quail, statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	October 17, 2026	February 7, 2027
Gambel's Quail, statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	October 17, 2026	February 7, 2027
Mountain Quail, statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	October 17, 2026	February 7, 2027	The department asks hunters who take mountain quail to report the harvest

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

The regulation dates California, Gambel's and mountain quail on three separate statewide rows that carry identical dates, opening the third Saturday of October and running to February 7, together with chukar and Hungarian partridge. Youth seasons for California and Gambel's quail run in late September and are under other seasons.

Blue (Dusky and Sooty) and Ruffed Grouse

published

Blue (Dusky and Sooty) and Ruffed Grouse runs September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada blue (dusky and sooty) and ruffed grouse, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Washoe and White Pine counties	September 1, 2026	December 31, 2026

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

Nevada's forest grouse season covers blue (dusky and sooty) and ruffed grouse together from September 1 through December 31 in thirteen named counties. Sage-grouse and Himalayan snowcock are dated separately and are under other seasons.

White-tailed Jackrabbits and Cottontail Rabbits

published

White-tailed Jackrabbits and Cottontail Rabbits runs November 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 across all zones.

Nevada white-tailed jackrabbits and cottontail rabbits, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	November 1, 2026	February 28, 2027	The regulation closes the season on the last day in February

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

Cottontail rabbits and white-tailed jackrabbits share one statewide season from November 1 through the last day of February; the same row appears under other seasons for the jackrabbit. The regulation states that the pygmy rabbit season is closed. A youth rabbit season in late September is under other seasons.

Squirrel

no season

Nevada has no open squirrel season for 2026-27. Nevada sets no squirrel season. Commission Regulation 26-13, which carries every upland game bird and rabbit season the Board of Wildlife Commissioners adopted for 2026-2027, dates cottontail rabbits and white-tailed jackrabbits as the state's only small game mammals and contains no tree squirrel season. Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife.

October 17, 2026 – February 7, 2027

Nevada Department of Wildlife, read September 19, 2026. Read it at the source

A rooster ring-necked pheasant with a red face, iridescent green head and white neck ring striding through dry pale crop stubble — A rooster in harvested crop stubble in North Dakota. Most pheasant openers land in October and November, once the fields are cut. Photo: Courtney Celley, USFWS. “Ring-necked pheasant (54120901581)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain

The rest of the calendar

Other Nevada small game seasons the agency names

Beyond the five main species, Nevada Department of Wildlife dates 8 further seasons on the same small game pages. They are reproduced here under the agency’s own names, because a hunter reading a calendar needs to know which window a licence or stamp actually covers.

Youth Chukar and Hungarian Partridge Season

published

Youth Chukar and Hungarian Partridge Season runs September 26, 2026 to October 4, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada youth chukar and hungarian partridge season, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	September 26, 2026	October 4, 2026

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

A nine day statewide season for hunters 17 years of age or younger accompanied by an adult, three weeks ahead of the general partridge opener.

Youth California Quail Season

published

Youth California Quail Season runs September 26, 2026 to October 4, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada youth california quail season, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	September 26, 2026	October 4, 2026

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

The youth California quail season runs on the same late September dates as the youth partridge, Gambel's quail and rabbit seasons.

Youth Gambel's Quail Season

published

Youth Gambel's Quail Season runs September 26, 2026 to October 4, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada youth gambel's quail season, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	September 26, 2026	October 4, 2026

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

The youth Gambel's quail season runs on the same late September dates as the other youth upland seasons.

Youth Rabbit Season

published

Youth Rabbit Season runs September 26, 2026 to October 4, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada youth rabbit season, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	September 26, 2026	October 4, 2026	Cottontail and white-tailed jackrabbits

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

A youth season for cottontail and white-tailed jackrabbits for hunters 17 and younger, a month ahead of the general rabbit opener.

Chukar and Hungarian Partridge

published

Chukar and Hungarian Partridge runs October 17, 2026 to February 7, 2027 across all zones.

Nevada chukar and hungarian partridge, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	October 17, 2026	February 7, 2027

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

Chukar and Hungarian partridge share one statewide season opening October 17 and closing February 7, the same window as the three quail species.

Sage-Grouse

published

Sage-Grouse runs September 19, 2026 to September 27, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada sage-grouse, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Hunt Units 061, 062, 064, 071-076, 101 and 102 in Elko County, Hunt Unit 051 in Humboldt County, Hunt Units 154 and 155 in Lander and Eureka Counties, and Hunt Units or portions of 161, 162, 172 and 173 in Eureka, Lander and Nye County	September 19, 2026	September 27, 2026
Hunt Units or portions of 011, 012, 013 and 015 in Washoe County, the portion of 012 in Humboldt County, Hunt Unit 031 in Humboldt County, 184 in Churchill and Lander Counties, 067 in Elko County, 121 in Elko and White Pine Counties, 111 in White Pine County and 131 in White Pine, Eureka and Nye Counties	September 19, 2026	September 20, 2026
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Special Sage-Grouse Hunt, Unit 033 of Washoe and Humboldt Counties, excluding the Little Sheldon and other posted areas	September 26, 2026	September 27, 2026	Limited to 40 reservations awarded through random draw

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

Nevada's sage-grouse season is split into a nine day season in the northeastern and central hunt units, a two day weekend season in the western and eastern units, and a separate drawing based special hunt on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge the following weekend. Areas not listed are closed.

Snowcock

published

Snowcock runs September 1, 2026 to November 30, 2026 across all zones.

Nevada snowcock, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Elko and White Pine Counties	September 1, 2026	November 30, 2026	A free-use snowcock hunting permit is required

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

Nevada is the only state with a Himalayan snowcock season, open September 1 through November 30 in Elko and White Pine counties.

White-tailed Jackrabbits and Cottontail Rabbits

published

White-tailed Jackrabbits and Cottontail Rabbits runs November 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 across all zones.

Nevada white-tailed jackrabbits and cottontail rabbits, as published by Nevada Department of Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide (except areas closed under NAC 504.340)	November 1, 2026	February 28, 2027

Dates read from Commission Regulation 26-13, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Wild Turkey, Furbearer and Falconry Seasons, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, accessed 2026-09-19.

White-tailed jackrabbits are dated on the same statewide row as cottontail rabbits, November 1 through the last day of February.

Rules

Nevada small game hunting regulations

Season windows are carried here with their source and read date attached. Everything else a hunter is bound by is set by Nevada Department of Wildlife, and its regulations page is linked below.

Current Nevada regulations

Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours, license and stamp requirements, and youth or special season rules for Nevada are set by Nevada Department of Wildlife, are legally binding and change annually. Its current regulations page is linked here.

Nevada Department of Wildlife: current regulations

Close view of an eastern cottontail rabbit in green grass, ears up, dark round eye and white chin catching the light — An eastern cottontail. Rabbit is usually the last small game season to close, running into February in most of the East and Midwest. Photo: Grayson Smith, USFWS. “Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (48935527872)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain

Small game season dates in other Rockies states

Every state’s pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbit and squirrel dates are on the national small game season page.

A pair of northern bobwhite quail standing together in a carpet of purple violets, the male with a bold white throat and eye stripe, the female buff faced — A bobwhite pair. Quail seasons run from late autumn into winter across the South and Midwest; several western states date scaled, Gambel's and California quail on the same row. Photo: Steve Maslowski, USFWS. “Colinus virginianus USFWS”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Public domain

Nevada pheasant seasonOpening day, the daily limit and the full Nevada pheasant calendar, read from the same agency.Nevada deer seasonArchery, firearms, muzzleloader and youth deer dates for 2026-27, under the same sourcing rules.Nevada turkey seasonSpring and fall wild turkey windows for 2026-27, read from the same agency.Nevada duck seasonDuck and goose season dates by zone and flyway, read from the same agency.Nevada fall foliagePeak color and the first grouse and squirrel weeks overlap. Plan the same trip.

Nevada small game season questions

When does quail season open in Nevada in 2026-27?

When is grouse season in Nevada?

Does Nevada have a pheasant season?

Which small game zone am I in, in Nevada?

Where are the bag limits, legal methods and licence rules for Nevada small game?

Can these Nevada small game dates change?

A fox squirrel with a grey back and rust orange belly crouched on a lichen covered branch against bare winter trees and blue sky — A fox squirrel in bare winter woods in Ohio. Squirrel is the earliest small game opener in many states, from mid August or September, and runs to January or February. “Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger vulpinus) (13255025953)” by Andrew C, CC BY 2.0

This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 19, 2026. Every season window is republished from the Nevada Department of Wildlife page linked beside it, read on September 19, 2026; windows the agency had not yet published are labelled not yet published. Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours and licence rules are set by Nevada Department of Wildlife, whose page is the final word on the day you hunt. See also the national small game season guide.