Edit: I just realized this was for bobwites. I saw Plant Lady's mention of Coturnix & went w/ that. I'll keep the OP in here though as I think the info is still useful.
In my area, Ottawa Canada, I've found I do not need a license for Japanese/Coturnix Quail. Edit: I do however need one for bobwhites, but I do not know the limit/selling. Nor is there a limit to how many I can keep at once, surprisingly. However there would be a fine (or license needed, possibly) if I were to release them to the wild (which I wouldn't willingly). There is also a license needed if I'd use them for training or hunting birds.
To find out this info the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources was contacted. This was to make sure it was okay in the country & province. Also, my Municipal Law Enforcement was contacted to make sure I could own them locally without breaking any by-laws.
Ironically, there are some laws here regarding how chickens are to be kept & how many I could have (60 Max). Yet nothing for Cot Quails.
I believe this lack of laws is due to a few reasons:
Quail are too 'new' to the area to be realized for their value & abuse is not yet rampant (animal hording, ignored diseases, etc) so laws against/for them specifically haven't been made yet. There is also no 'profit' in mass-quail farming (yet..) as they are too challenging to keep for large scale production. And lastly, there is no community over-rational fear of quail & diseases, unlike chickens - esp as it's said they cannot pass on salmonella through eggs like chickens can.
One thing I really want to point out is even though it all looks good, all laws are in the right place, it's up to all of us as quail keepers to be a good example AND keep up with local laws. If for example, a backwards law which prevents keeping quail in my area is about to slip in & nobody challenges it, that would be my fault for ignoring it. So definitely try to keep in touch with local quail keepers, promote them as positively as you can, get others on the bandwagon, etc. Build up the community and it will protect everyone's quail-keeping interests for the long term.
Sorry for the ramble & repeats. But def good to drill your local area & government for questions. Get it all in writing, even if it's all good news. You never know when laws will change for whatever reason.
