Texas wildlife surveys show sharply different quail trends by region ahead of the November hunting season. Scaled quail observations rose strongly on the Edwards Plateau, while bobwhite counts in South Texas and the Rolling Plains fell from last year but remained above their longer-term regional averages.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's October outlook describes generally favorable prospects after its August roadside counts. The underlying regional records are more useful than a single statewide description: neither an above-average index nor a favorable forecast guarantees birds at a particular property.

The agency's bobwhite survey uses randomly selected, 20-mile roadside routes. The program began in 1978, and its published comparisons measure average birds observed per route against a 15-year regional mean. They are an index of population trends, not a census of every quail in Texas.

In South Texas, observers recorded 10.17 bobwhites per route, down from 12.70 in 2025 but above the 15-year mean of 9.92. The Rolling Plains similarly declined to 13.68 from 15.32, compared with a longer-term mean of 12.79. Those distinctions matter: above average does not necessarily mean an improvement over the immediately preceding season.

Other bobwhite regions improved. The Edwards Plateau averaged 4.67 per route, compared with 1.28 last year and a 15-year mean of 3.15. TPWD nevertheless cautions that habitat and weather vary, with late-summer heat and dryness creating concerns. Its regional outlook should not be read as a property-specific assessment.

The separate scaled-quail report shows the Edwards Plateau average rising to 29.88 per route from 14.00 last year, well above the 15-year mean of 8.38. The Trans-Pecos averaged 23.18, compared with 20.06 last year and a longer-term mean of 19.52.

The scaled-quail picture was not uniformly stronger. High Plains observations fell to 4.75 from 7.75, although they remained above the regional mean of 3.67. TPWD reports that drought hurt that region while late-spring rain supported nesting in the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau. These are the department's observations and interpretation; TAQ has not independently counted the birds.

The current season listing identifies November 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, as the statewide regular season. It lists a daily bag limit of 15 and possession limit of 45 for bobwhite, scaled and Gambel's quail, with no open season for Mearn's, also called Montezuma, quail. An upland game bird endorsement is required.

Public-land access requires a separate check. TPWD's announcement says participants using its public hunting lands need an Annual Public Hunting Permit and should consult the Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet for area-specific requirements. A statewide season date does not establish that a particular unit is open on every date. The agency also directs readers to local wildlife biologists for county-specific conditions rather than relying only on regional averages.

Follow National news and Texas news, or get updates by email.

AI-generated habitat illustration; not a photograph of a named wildlife management area or an actual survey route.