Texas quail populations show strength ahead of November hunting season

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has announced that annual roadside surveys indicate healthy quail populations ahead of the hunting season opening on November 1. Biologists covered more than 3,300 road miles in August to conduct these surveys, finding that good habitat conditions and timely rainfall supported the production of bobwhite and scaled quail.

While population numbers fluctuated across different ecoregions due to varying weather patterns, most areas showed above-average bobwhite observations compared to the 15-year mean. The South Texas region reported an average of 10.17 bobwhites per route, exceeding the 15-year average of 9.92. Strong populations are also anticipated in the Trans Pecos region.

Public hunting opportunities are available in several areas, including the Matador, Gene Howe, and Teacup Mountain Wildlife Management Areas in North Texas, as well as the Chaparral and James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Areas in South Texas.