In addition, an upland game bird stamp is required for hunting quail and chukar. Shooting hours for quail and chukar are 30 minutes before sunrise through sunset. The earlier ending time helps prevent covey breakup at night, which will help decrease upland birds' susceptibility to predation. Data collected by DFG biologists indicate a prolonged wet spring delayed nesting or caused high brood mortality in the early spring. However, that same spring rain provided abundant insect production for late hatching broods.
Survival rate appears to be high for broods hatched later in the spring and summer.
The southeastern portion of California also received above-average spring precipitation providing optimal conditions for quail and chukar production. Hunting prospects statewide look good.