Upland Bird Hunting in New Mexico: Quail, Grouse, Pheasant, Doves, Hunting Regulations, and More
Hunt four species of quail, blue grouse, three types of dove, pheasant, and other small game in the Land of Enchantment.
After packing out a bull elk on a drift boat, my hunting party and I transitioned away from the high desert and into the pristine mountains. We were going to upland bird hunt in New Mexico. Blue grouse, or, more accurately, dusky grouse hunting, was on the menu. I borrowed a 28-gauge Remington Model 1100 in hopes of shooting my first New Mexico grouse.
The steep mountain was full of beautiful overlooks, manageable temperatures, and the tell-tale signs of grouse. Young aspen cut their way down the mountain with overgrown logging roads; it felt like decent ruffed grouse habitat.
This combined elk and grouse hunting trip took me through the diverse landscapes that New Mexico has to offer. It left me wanting to chase duskies plus Montezuma (Mearns), Gambel’s, and Scaled quail. The eastern side of the state even has wild bobwhite quail.
The “Land of Enchantment” has an estimated 31 million acres of hunting land. In federal lands, that includes over 13 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land and almost 10 million acres of US Forest Service land. The state owns another nine million acres, of which over 40 percent is open to hunting.
Local quail hunters often speak of just how good the hunting was several decades ago. “I was born and raised in Deming, New Mexico,” wrote Ray Trejo in “Old Dogs,” published in a 2022 issue of Project Upland Magazine. “In the seventies and eighties, this place was synonymous with quail hunting. Hunters came from all over the country in search of Gambel’s and scaled quail. They filled up our hotels and restaurants, making our town a bird hunting destination.” Although quail hunting in southern New Mexico isn’t as popular now as it was back then, on good water years, the bird numbers can be just as plentiful.
New Mexico also offers pheasant hunting, three species of dove hunting, and band-tailed pigeon hunting. It is also home to four squirrel species.
| Species* | Season | Daily / Possession Limit | Notes |
| Scaled Quail | Nov. 15 2025–Feb. 15, 2026 | 15/30 | Limit is combined with other quail. No more than 5/10 Montezuma quail |
| Gambel’s Quail | Nov. 15 2025–Feb. 15, 2026 | 15/30 | Limit is combined with other quail. No more than 5/10 Montezuma quail |
| Montezuma Quail (Mearns) | Nov. 15 2025–Feb. 15, 2026 | 15/30 | Limit is combined with other quail. No more than 5/10 Montezuma quail |
| Bobwhite Quail | Nov. 15 2025–Feb. 15, 2026 | 15/30 | Limit is combined with other quail. No more than 5/10 Montezuma quail |
| Dusky Grouse (Blue) | Sept. 1 2025 –Dec. 31 2025 | 3/6 | |
| Pheasant | Dec. 11-14, 2025 | 3/6 | Check below for special permit hunts |
| Mourning & White-Winged Dove (North Zone) | Sept. 1–Nov. 29, 2023 | 15/45 (Combined with White-winged dove) | |
| Mourning & White-Winged Dove (South Zone) | Not available yet** | 15/45 (Combined with White-winged dove) | |
| Band-Tailed Pigeon (North Zone) | Not available yet** | 2/6 | A free Band-tailed Pigeon Permit is required |
| Band-Tailed Pigeon (South Zone) | Not available yet** | 2/6 | A free Band-tailed Pigeon Permit is required |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Not available yet** | unlimited | |
| Squirrel (Abert’s,Red, Gray, and Fox) | Sept. 1, 2025 –Dec. 31, 2025 | 8/16 (combined) |
*The bird hunting season dates, game bird species available, and other information is subject to change. Please visit the New Mexico Game & Fish website for the most up-to-date information on bird hunting in New Mexico. This information was last updated on June 30, 2025.
**When the dove and pigeon regulations become available, check here to view the Migratory Game Bird Supplement publication.
Southwestern Quail Hunting in New Mexico
New Mexico is famous for its southwestern quail hunting opportunities alongside Arizona. These unique species offer different challenges to upland bird hunters and hunting dogs. Each year, populations can be influenced heavily by rainfall. One season high can be followed by an all-time low. One should consider their ethics when traveling to hunt southwestern quail, including the best practices on personal bag limits and an understanding of how to not over-hunt a covey.
The daily bag limit for combined quail is 15 (including up to 5 Montezuma Quail), with a possession limit of 30 (including up to 10 Montezuma Quail).
Scaled Quail Hunting
Scaled quail, sometimes called blue quail, are a popular upland game bird in New Mexico. It is the most widely distributed quail population in the state. Spring rain is very important to scaled quail populations. Scaled quail are famous for running, making them a challenging upland game bird.
Scaled quail season opens November 15, 2023, and runs until February 15, 2024.
Gambel’s Quail Hunting
Gambel’s quail look very similar to California (valley) quail. The second most distributed southwestern quail species, Gambel’s rely on spring moisture for good populations, just like scaled quail. New Mexico Game & Fish states, “Gambel’s quail are a warm-desert resident of brushy and thorny vegetation in desert mountain foothills, brushy drainages, as well as adjoining cultivated lands.”
Gambel’s quail season opens November 15, 2025, and runs until February 15, 2026.
Montezuma Quail (Mearn’s Quail) Hunting
Mearn’s quail, commonly called the Montezuma quail, inhabit most of the southwestern portion of New Mexico. Unlike scaled and Gambel’s quail, summer rains have the most significant influence on Montezuma quail populations. New Mexico Game & Fish describes their habitat as “pine-oak and oak scrub habitats, especially in open woodlands with a grass understory. They are often found on steep slopes and do not occur in areas without an adequate grassland component.”
Montezuma quail season opens November 15, 2025, and runs until February 15, 2026.
Bobwhite Quail Hunting
Believe it or not, the whole eastern side of New Mexico is home to a healthy population of northern bobwhite quail. Their populations are closely tied to spring rain seasons. Bobwhite quail are the most distributed species of quail in North America and are the iconic “prince of the uplands.”
Bobwhite quail season opens November 15, 2025, and runs until February 15, 2026.
Dusky Grouse Hunting
Dusky grouse, sometimes called blue grouse, aren’t found in the desert. Instead, they live in the mountains above 7,000 feet, places often referred to as “sky islands.” Although dusky grouse populations in New Mexico are declining due to extreme wildfires decreasing forest habitats, some birds can still be found in the aspen and conifer forests of the north-central Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
The dusky grouse season opens September 1 to December 31, 2025, with a daily bag limit of 3 grouse and a possession limit of 6.
Pheasant Hunting in New Mexico
While pheasant are an introduced non-native species, New Mexico has small pockets of wild populations with limited hunting opportunities. The shot season runs from December 11th to the 14th, 2025, with a limit of 3 male birds (6 possession limit).
Multiple special permit draw hunts for pheasant in New Mexico are only available to residents. This includes two youth hunts, one in the Bernardo hunt area on October 21, 2023 (20 permits) and the other at the W.S. Huey hunt area on December 2nd, 2023 (40 permits). Adults have access to a later hunt at W.S. Huey on December 09, 2023 (40 permits). These permits are only available during a special permit drawing.
Dove and Pigeon Hunting in New Mexico
If dusky grouse hunting is not an option to scratch that September hunting itch, New Mexico offers plenty of dove and pigeon hunting opportunities. New Mexico provides mourning and white-winged dove seasons as well as band-tailed pigeons. Furthermore, it offers a year-round season for Eurasian Collared doves. Outside the Eurasian Collared dove, the migratory bird regulation handbook dictates the seasons.
New Mexico Hunter’s Safety Course
Like every state, New Mexico requires a hunter’s safety course completion recognized by one of the 50 states to be able to buy a hunting license. New Mexico is among the states allowing hunter’s safety to be taken entirely online. The online course, offered by hunt-ed.com, is $34.95. The state also offers free in-person hunter’s safety courses and field days.
New Mexico Upland Hunting License Requirements
New Mexico upland bird hunting licenses can be purchased online or at a licensed vendor. They are valid from April 1st to March 31st of the following year.
| License | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Game Hunting License (Squirrel and game birds) | $15.00 | $65.00 |
| Junior Game Hunting License | $10 | $15 |
| Disabled Veteran Game-hunting & Fishing License | $10 | — |
| Non-resident 4-day Game Hunting | — | $33.00 |
| Habitat Stamp | $10 | $10 |
| Habitat Management and Access Validation | $4 | $4 |
This information was last updated on June 30, 2025. Please visit the New Mexico Game and Fish website for the most up-to-date information.
Dog Training Permits
New Mexico requires a $15 permit for dog training for call-pen release birds (pheasant, chukar, or bobwhite quail). Field trials and hunt tests also require the $15 permit, and pen-raised pheasants, quail, chukars, and mallards can be used. 19.35.2 NMAC governs these rules.
New Mexico Blaze Orange Requirements
Hunters hunting on military properties must wear at least 244 square inches of blaze orange. If you’re hunting at Ft. Bliss, they require a blaze orange vest to be worn. Elk hunters using rifles on Valles Caldera National Preserve must wear a minimum of 244 square inches of blaze orange. Those are all the blaze orange requirements listed by NMDGF.
“Though not required elsewhere by law, NMDGF strongly encourages hunters to wear blaze orange,” says the 2025-2026 New Mexico Hunting regulations. Project Upland strongly encourages all upland hunters to wear blaze orange, too.
Hunting Upland Birds In New Mexico Is Worth The Trip
If you’re traveling to hunt upland birds in New Mexico, try to time your trip around mid-October. That way, you and your bird dog can check out over 500 hot air balloons floating above Albuquerque at its annual Balloon Fiesta. Additionally, making time to eat at local restaurants in Santa Fe and visit its historic plaza is absolutely worth it.
Did I mention New Mexico is known for its hot springs, too? There’s nothing like a long, relaxing soak after several days in desert quail country.
Those who love New Mexico know just how enchanting the desert landscape can be. Ray Trejo is no exception:
Peering out from my casita in southwestern New Mexico, I watch the sun fade. It is a gorgeous evening and a beautiful New Mexican sunset to boot. Movement between the mesquites and yuccas catches my eye and I grab my binoculars. There, between the leaves, I count 18 half-grown Gambel’s quail as they follow their mom and dad to their roosting tree for the night. I am lucky to live here, in the desert, close to the Mexican border.