2013 Stubble Quail Season

Stubble Quail

The Stubble Quail is the only native quail species that can be legally hunted in Victoria. A number of introduced game birds (eg. pheasants, partridges) may also be hunted, however, most of these introduced game birds are only found on licensed game bird farms.

The Stubble Quail is the most common quail species occurring in Australia and is found in Queensland and much of south-eastern and south-western Australia, across a range of habitat types.

Stubble Quail prefer areas of tall, dense ground vegetation, particularly grasslands, natural or improved, as well as areas of other low cover including cereal crops, stubble and leafy crops.

Generally, quail hunting occurs on private property in stubble paddocks and grasslands, however, 16 State Game Reserves are open to Stubble Quail hunting (see below for details).

Season dates

The 2013 Stubble Quail Season opens on Saturday 6 April 2013 and closes on Sunday 30 June 2013.

Bag limit

The bag limit is a maximum of 20 birds per day.

Hunting method

Stubble Quail may be hunted with a shotgun only, not exceeding a 12 gauge.

Opening times

The hunting of Stubble Quail is only permitted from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset during the prescribed hunting season.

The use of gun dogs for hunting Stubble Quail

The use of a trained gun dog has the potential to increase hunter success while enabling the hunter to participate in and appreciate an age-old tradition.

Gun dogs can be particularly useful when hunting quail in long grass and to locate downed birds, which may otherwise be lost.

For further information on the use of gun dogs used to hunt Stubble Quail, please visit the DPI website at: www.dpi.vic.gov.au

Stubble Quail hunting on State Game Reserves

Stubble Quail may be hunted on the following 16 State Game Reserves:

For a map of these reserves, please visit the DPI website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au

Non-game quail and Plains-wanderer

All native quail species are protected in Victoria and, with the exception of the Stubble Quail, may not be hunted. In addition, the threatened Plains-wanderer, a separate species that sometimes resembles a quail, also occurs in Victoria and is fully protected.

Plains-wanderer

The Plains-wanderer is a small ground-dwelling bird found in north-western and central Victoria, especially around Mitiamo. The species was formerly much more abundant and widespread, however, changes to agricultural and pastoral practices have eliminated the bird from many areas, reducing its range.

In Victoria, the Plains-wanderer is considered to be critically endangered and is listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Should factors causing their decline continue, it could become extinct. The Plains-wanderer is a plump, tailless bird with brown plumage, straw-yellow legs and is sometimes mistaken for a quail. The Plains-wanderer inhabits sparse native grasslands, old stubble and grazed pasture.

Plains-wanderers are fully protected in Victoria and must not be shot. Hunters need to be aware that Plains-wanderers superficially look like Stubble Quail and often share the same habitat and may be present in their hunting area.

How to recognise the Plains-wanderer

The Stubble Quail and Plains-wanderer show distinctively different flight characteristics which can be used to distinguish birds in the field. Stubble Quail flush with a loud whirring of wings at a shallow angle to the ground, fly straight, far and fast, just above cover, twisting slightly then dropping tail-down into cover. The Plains-wanderer has a laboured, fluttering flight and often its long, yellow legs can be seen trailing behind, in much the same fashion as a coot.

Non-game quail

When hunting, you may encounter several other quail species that could be mistaken for the Stubble Quail. Those most commonly encountered include: Brown Quail; King Quail; Painted Button Quail; and Little Button Quail. These birds are protected all year and must not be hunted.

Distinguishing between Stubble Quail and non-game quail

It is important that hunters can readily distinguish between Stubble Quail and protected quail species while hunting. You should pay particular attention to: the size and flight characteristics of the bird; the habitat that you are hunting in; and the social organisation of the birds.

Below is a general description that can be used by hunters as a guide to recognising the differences between the Stubble Quail and non-game quail species. Remember, if you are not sure, DON'T SHOOT.