State Opens Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail Seasons in Adams County November
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has set ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail seasons for Nov. 7–30, 2025 in select southern counties including Adams, with specific daily limits and legal hunting hours. The short seasons carry implications for local hunters, land access, wildlife management and public safety, and residents are urged to review county-specific rules before heading into the field.
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The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has published its 2025 small-game regulations opening ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail seasons in designated southern counties, with Adams County included among those where both seasons will run Nov. 7–30. Under the ruffed grouse rule, legal hunting begins one-half hour before sunrise and continues through sunset, with a daily bag limit of one grouse. The bobwhite quail season also runs Nov. 7–30 in designated counties including Adams, with hunting allowed from sunrise to sunset and subject to county-specific access and restrictions.
For Adams County residents, the simultaneous opening of both seasons concentrates hunting pressure into a narrow window in early November. The short duration and the strict grouse bag limit are designed to balance hunting opportunity with population conservation, and the differing legal hours between grouse and quail reflect species-specific management decisions. The ODNR administrative code that sets these parameters advises hunters to consult the current rules before hunting; failure to follow season dates, hours, and bag limits can result in penalties under state law.
Local impacts are likely to be practical as well as ecological. Hunters who participate in these seasons contribute to local outdoor recreation spending on licenses, gear and services, and increased activity can affect access to public hunting areas and private lands that permit hunting. County-specific restrictions for bobwhite quail mean that land access and allowable hunting methods may vary across jurisdictions, so hunters and landowners should verify local provisions before planning outings.
From a public-safety perspective, the defined start and end times aim to reduce conflicts and ensure daylight-only hunting activity. The half-hour-before-sunrise allowance for grouse aligns with established practices for early-morning upland game hunting, while the sunrise-to-sunset requirement for quail keeps that pursuit strictly within daylight hours. Both sets of rules place responsibility on hunters to know and follow the legal hours and limits.
Wildlife managers use season timing and bag limits as tools to manage upland game populations, but the regulations published by ODNR are a starting point rather than a complete picture. Hunters and residents who want detailed, county-specific information on access, permitted methods and any special restrictions should consult the ODNR administrative code and the department’s current hunting regulations.
The full administrative rule for the 2025 upland game seasons is available through the Ohio administrative code. Hunters in Adams County and neighboring communities are advised to review those regulations at codes.ohio.gov before heading afield to confirm dates, legal hours, bag limits and any county-specific provisions that may affect access and compliance.
