Quail season starts on Saturday, Oct. 26

From Texas Parks & Wildlife

Quail hunting season in Texas kicks off Oct. 26, and the annual Texas Parks and Wildlife Department roadside survey indicates an upward trend in population numbers. Improved habitat and scattered but timely rainfall provided a boost for bobwhite and scaled quail.
“This is good news for quail and for many across rural Texas,” said John McLaughlin, TPWD upland game bird program leader. “While habitat is the main driver of long-term population trends, annual weather patterns (i.e., rainfall, temperature) dictate yearly fluctuations; unsurprisingly the two are interconnected. As the state has eased out of drought conditions, the habitat has followed, and quail have clearly been amongst the beneficiaries.”
Bobwhite quail benefited from early-season rainfall last year, which set the stage for the grass and “weed” growth that is so critical to good production. These factors led to population increases in 2023 in almost every ecoregion of the state. The mild winter that followed improved carryover and kickstarted breeding activity, which, along with cooler temperatures this spring, bolstered 2024 population numbers.
“Interrupted by summer heatwaves the rebuild has been slow, but bobwhite populations appear to be climbing fast out of the hole they’ve been mired in since 2020,” said McLaughlin. “As we enter the fall it’s clear that there has been a significant increase in bird numbers across Texas, with bobwhites observed on greater than50 percent of all survey routes this August. We expect ample opportunity for hunters in comparison to previous years and believe, with caveats and exceptions, there’s reason to be excited come Oct. 26.”
The survey results showed an unexpectedly large bump of bobwhites in the Rolling Plains, which includes Wilbarger County, with 16.50 birds seen per route compared to 3.43 last year. This count was above the 15-year mean of 11.75 and a significant increase from 2023.
The Rolling Plains, known more for bobwhites, observed a small bump in scaled quail this August.
Statewide surveys were initiated in 1978 to monitor quail populations — historical survey data, 1978 to 2024, is available on the TPWD website. It’s important to note that TPWD surveys are only designed to provide a representation of bobwhite and scaled quail populations at the regional level and local conditions may vary considerably.
Hunters taking advantage of Texas Public Hunting Lands must have the Annual Public Hunting Permit. It is important for public land hunters to consult the Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet to review regulations that may apply to specific areas. The Texas Hunt & Fish app (formerly My Texas Hunt Harvest) can be used to complete on-site registration electronically at a public hunting area.
Additional information about quail in Texas can be found on TPWD’s quail webpage.