DNR News
** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
June 1, 2011
Commercial license needed to sell pen-reared quail
A growing market continues to exist for the sale of pen-reared bobwhite quail, but state natural resources officials say a commercial quail breeder’s license is needed before opening for business.
Before any individual can operate as a commercial quail breeder, state law requires that a commercial quail breeder’s license must first be obtained from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), according to Billy Dukes, DNR Small Game Project supervisor. This license is required for all quail species, not just the native bobwhite.
A quail breeder’s license from DNR costs $5. The license is valid from July 1 through the following June 30. For more information or a license application, write SCDNR, Quail Breeder’s License, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202 or call (803) 734-3833 in Columbia.
"Even with an average annual wild quail population decline of about 4 percent, bobwhite quail is still one of the most popular game species in the Southeast," Dukes said. "This creates a market for the sale of pen-reared bobwhite quail."
During the 2009-10 South Carolina shooting preserve season, over 225,000 pen-reared quail were released for hunting, according to Dukes. This figure does not include the thousands of quail bought and released for hunting on lands other than preserves, purchased for the training of bird dogs, used in bird dog field trials, or sold strictly for human consumption.
Many pen-reared quail bought for recreational use were raised and sold by commercial quail breeders in South Carolina, Dukes said, and these individuals are required by state law to obtain a commercial quail breeder’s license from DNR. Exceptions to this law include hotels, restaurants, boarding houses and clubs that raise pen-reared quail to be consumed on the premises.
More News
- Drought Response Committee places entire state in incipient drought status
- Columbia boat titling office open on Saturdays in June
- Statewide deer harvest decreases in 2010
- Manatees return to South Carolina and boaters urged caution
- Renew your state hunting and fishing license and find out why Life’s Better Outdoors
- Commercial license needed to sell pen-reared quail
- Plant now for fall mourning dove hunts
- State Wildlife, Fisheries group will meet June 15 in Columbia
- Thermal thinning and pruning with prescribed fire benefits longleaf pine stands
- DNR Celebrates National Boating and Fishing Week, June 4-12
- Clam season to close May 31; oyster season closed May 15
- Tips on bear-proofing Lowcountry properties
- Seasonal Santee Cooper striped bass closure begins June 1
- 2011 public alligator hunting, special WMA alligator season applications available online
- Camp Wildwood outdoor environmental camp scheduled for June 19-25
- Freshwater fishing trends
- Saltwater fishing trends
- S.C. weekly tidetable
- DNR video
Follow DNR on the Web:
