By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Good habitat conditions and timely rainfall have raised expectations for bobwhite and scaled quail hunters heading into the 2025 season.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials are  optimistic, citing strong data from the agency’s annual roadside survey to measure the population.

The annual TPWD roadside survey revealed encouraging population numbers heading into opening day thanks to

“We had a really good carryover coming out of last winter, and things really were setting up just well,” Patrick Schutz, TPWD upland game bird program leader, said. “We had good rains, good range conditions, good habitat as we were going into our breeding, new nesting season and really that carried throughout the summer.”

TPWD biologists conducted about 165 road surveys covering over 3,300 miles of Texas in early August.

Schutz said hunters can anticipate a promising season, especially in the Rolling Plains, South Texas and Trans Pecos regions where populations are traditionally the strongest.

Bobwhite quail
Bobwhite numbers are holding strong statewide, supported by good carryover, quality habitat and above-average rainfall.

Bobwhite populations in the Rolling Plains are similar to last year, but reports in many areas of the ecoregion show above average numbers.

South Texas remains a stronghold, with populations generally increasing farther south. The roadside survey shows 12.70 birds per route, an increase from last year’s population of 9.13.

“We were excited to see an increase on the average number of bobwhites seen per route in South Texas,” Schutz said. “This region accounted for over 50 percent of the estimated total bobwhite harvest last season and biologists are encouraged by the bobwhite numbers they’ve observed recently.

The High Plains saw a slight increase in population at 4.44 per route compared to 3.78 last year.

Cross Timbers saw a slight decrease to 0.94 compared to 1.37 last year. The Gulf Coast Prairies decreased slightly from 5.30 last year to 4.40 this year.

The population in Edwards Plateau saw a decrease to 1.28.

Scaled quail
The 2025 scaled quail population survey revealed that population numbers increased across their range, with counts above the 15-year average in every ecoregion.

Biologists reported strong carryover from last year, early nesting in the High Plains and improved habitat conditions later in the summer across the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau.

“The Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau were in drought conditions early on, but rainfall and habitat conditions improved through mid to later summer,” Schutz said. “Early spring rains and good habitat conditions in the High Plains provided for some early nesting, increased calling activity and multiple broods observed throughout the region.”

The average number of scaled quail seen in the Edwards Plateau was 14 per route compared to 6.38 last year.

The number of scaled quail seen per route in the High Plains was 7.75 compared to 3.83 last year.

Hunting opportunities
Quail hunting season statewide is Nov. 1, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2026.

Schutz encouraged hunters to contact a local TPWD wildlife biologist for county specific outlooks.

“Contact your local Parks and Wildlife biologist for more information,” he said. “They can provide a more specific report outlook on the area that you’re going to be hunting in.”

Read TPWD’s quail index survey for northern bobwhite and scaled quail.