By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
Quail hunters can expect good to very good hunting in South Texas this year, but should probably temper their expectations if hunting on the Rolling Plains.
Rangeland and habitat conditions across much of Texas are good to excellent this year thanks to spring and summer rains. That bodes well for grassland birds, including quail, but this year, other factors are impacting quail numbers.
“With the Rolling Plains, the last three years have really been comparable to the 2011-2013 drought period that we had,” John McLaughlin, Upland Game Bird program leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), said. “Entering this year, we had really low population numbers and what we refer to as low breeding stock—not a lot of hens on the landscape available to nest.”
That, combined with a lack of quality nesting cover from previous years, led to a slow start to the nesting season.
“We really expect that it will be a below-average hunting season for most folks across that region,” McLaughlin said.
Each year, TPWD releases a quail season forecast based on quail roadside counts conducted the first two weeks of August.
McLaughlin said despite the good spring and summer rains across Texas, TPWD came up with some of the lowest survey numbers on record for much of the state.
The good news is bobwhite numbers are expected to be much better in South Texas.
“Last year, they had quite a productive year and actually accounted for about 80% of the statewide harvest. They had some good carryover,” McLaughlin told the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “They caught that May-to-July rainfall. Range and habitat conditions look great in that part of the state.
Good to very good quail numbers are expected in South Texas, especially in areas east of Interstate 35, including Brooks, Kenedy and Kleberg counties.
Above-average to good quail hunting conditions are expected anywhere west of IH-35 from Austin to Del Rio.
Scaled quail numbers are expected to be below average to average in West Texas.
If Winter Storm Uri had any impact on the quail population, it’s tough to tell.
“We weren’t tracking birds during that period, so it would be mostly speculative, but I would say it definitely wasn’t good and most likely hurt birds as they were preparing to come into the nesting season,” McLaughlin said.
TPWD made no regulation changes for quail hunters this year.
The bag limit remains at 15 birds per day with a possession limit of 45.
Quail hunting season is set for Oct. 30 through Feb. 27, 2022.
Click here for more information on bag limits and regulations.