Quail, pheasant, chukar, and grouse: where the birds are, how to get on them, and 313 licensed upland hunting preserves across 32 states, checked against a working website or current public listing.
Where to go depends on what you want to chase. The number beside each state is how many preserves we list there.
The bird of the Southern plantation tradition. Wild coveys hold on in managed pine country and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and nearly every Southern preserve runs released-quail hunts over pointing dogs.
The Dakotas, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska hold the strongest wild populations. Released-pheasant preserves are common across the Midwest and Northeast, which is why Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio carry so many listings.
Wild chukar live on steep, rocky ground in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah. On preserves they are the third bird of the classic quail-pheasant-chukar mixed bag, and they fly hard.
Wild-bird hunting in young forest across the Great Lakes, Appalachia, and New England. This is almost entirely a public-land and permission-ground pursuit, though a few preserves offer it.
Every state we cover, with the number of licensed preserves listed and the birds they most often offer. Each state guide lists every preserve with species, location, and a link to book.
Bobwhite country: piney woods, broomsedge, and the plantation tradition. 73 preserves listed.
Released-bird preserves within a drive of the big cities, plus grouse and woodcock cover. 47 preserves listed.
| State | Preserves |
|---|---|
| Upland hunting in Pennsylvania Regulations: Pennsylvania Game Commission | 44 |
| Upland hunting in New York | 2 |
| Upland hunting in New Jersey Regulations: New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife | 1 |
Pheasant fields, CRP grass, and northern grouse woods. 123 preserves listed.
| State | Preserves |
|---|---|
| Upland hunting in Ohio Regulations: Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife | 25 |
| Upland hunting in Michigan Regulations: Michigan Department of Natural Resources | 39 |
| Upland hunting in Illinois Regulations: Illinois Department of Natural Resources | 36 |
| Upland hunting in Wisconsin Regulations: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | 2 |
| Upland hunting in Iowa Regulations: Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 20 |
| Upland hunting in Missouri Regulations: Missouri Department of Conservation | 1 |
Big-sky pheasant and quail country, from the Dakotas to the Rio Grande. 56 preserves listed.
| State | Preserves |
|---|---|
| Upland hunting in North Dakota Regulations: North Dakota Game and Fish Department | 1 |
| Upland hunting in South Dakota Regulations: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks | 9 |
| Upland hunting in Nebraska Regulations: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission | 2 |
| Upland hunting in Kansas Regulations: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks | 4 |
| Upland hunting in Oklahoma Regulations: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation | 5 |
| Upland hunting in Texas Regulations: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department | 35 |
Chukar ridges, sage flats, and desert quail. 14 preserves listed.
| State | Preserves |
|---|---|
| Upland hunting in Montana Regulations: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks | 2 |
| Upland hunting in Colorado Regulations: Colorado Parks and Wildlife | 1 |
| Upland hunting in Utah Regulations: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources | 1 |
| Upland hunting in Idaho Regulations: Idaho Department of Fish and Game | 6 |
| Upland hunting in New Mexico Regulations: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish | 1 |
| Upland hunting in Oregon Regulations: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife | 3 |
A preserve is the right call for a first hunt, a corporate or family outing, a young dog that needs birds, or any day you want a near-certain flush. You pay by the bird or by the package, and the guide, dogs, and cleaning are usually handled.
Public land is wild birds on their own terms: more walking, fewer flushes, and a hunt you earn. It is free or close to it beyond your license, and it rewards scouting and a good dog.
Many upland hunters do both: a preserve day early in the year to sharpen the dog and the shooting, then wild-bird trips once the season opens.
Which birds and how many are included, whether guides and dogs are provided or you can bring your own, what license you need and whether they sell it, the season dates, and whether birds are cleaned and packed. A good preserve answers all of that in one phone call.
Start with a licensed shooting preserve in your state; most are within a short drive of a metro area and run hunts most of the fall, winter, and early spring. Use the upland hunting near me locator to see the closest preserves, or browse by state below.
A licensed property where game birds such as quail, pheasant, and chukar are released for hunting. Most offer guides and trained pointing dogs, and many add lodging, meals, and sporting clays. Because the birds are released, preserves can usually run a longer season than wild-bird hunting allows.
It depends on the state. Some require a regular hunting license, some offer a cheaper preserve-only license, and many preserves can sell you what you need on site. Check the state wildlife agency linked in the table above and ask the preserve when you book.
Wild-bird seasons generally run from fall into winter and vary by state and species. Licensed preserves typically run longer, often from early fall well into spring. Confirm current dates with the preserve and the state agency.
Yes. Most preserves provide a guide and trained dogs, so you only need a shotgun, blaze orange, and the right license. Many will also rent a gun.
For wild pheasant, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. For wild quail, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and managed Southern plantations. For chukar, Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. For preserve hunting close to home, nearly every state east of the Rockies has good options.
See the closest upland hunting preserves to where you are right now.
Upland hunting near me →