Category: Quail Hunting

The drought of 2011 has been rough on Texas’ plants and animals, but among the hardest hit is the bobwhite quail. This upland game bird is highly correlated with quality native grasslands, but both are on the decline. Low amounts of precipitation mean poor habitat quality and below average quail hunting. And the drought is only compounding matters because of low soil moisture, overgrazing by livestock, little plant growth and seed production and low nesting success.

“We’ve been on point monitoring quail declines well before this current drought,” said Clayton Wolf, Wildlife Director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “We’ve been taking steps to address the problem of low quail numbers and declining habitat, but the drought is raising the sense of urgency.”

The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), an annual field census survey used to track quail productivity, shows a decline in Texas bobwhite quail breeding numbers at a rate of 3.9 percent per year from 1970 to 2009. Texas bobwhite harvest has declined by 80 percent over the past 30 years. Although this population decline is not as steep as seen in southeastern states, it is still cause for concern.

Many reasons are cited for these declines, but evidence points to changes in the quantity and quality of quail habitat as the leading cause. The topic has broad relevance, because grassland habitat used by quail is important for many of other wildlife species. Proper management can have big, cumulative effects because grassland habitat can affect water quantity and quality for people, as well.

“For all of us who care about the future of this prized game bird and the habitats it occupies around the state, complacency is not an option,” said Carter Smith, TPWD Executive Director. “We need hunters, landowners, government agencies and non-profit groups all making this a priority in order to advance the recovery of this species. Rest assured, the department will do its part.”

While TPWD wildlife biologists are focusing their efforts on assisting landowners develop habitat-based management strategies that can benefit quail and other grassland wildlife, the department is also taking action in other areas, including possible changes in quail hunting regulations.

Potential changes in season length and bag limit framework for the 2012-13 hunting season will be discussed during the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s November 2 Regulatory Committee meeting in Austin. Over the next few months, the TPWD Wildlife Division’s upland game bird staff and technical committee will review season length, bag limits and the possibility of regional differences for quail season to determine if modifications to the 2012-13 seasons are warranted.

Wolf said regulation changes alone won’t solve the problem. “But, we can look at a variety of approaches to address quail management, including regulations,” he said. Good news is that in one area of the state, the Gulf Prairies and Marshes region, quail numbers this year have actually risen due to proactive habitat management and adequate weather conditions.

Even in areas of the state where quail numbers have dropped considerably this year, particularly the Rolling Plains region in North Texas, there are still pockets with huntable numbers of bobwhites. But, dry conditions this year contributed to major wildfires that consumed millions of acres of vegetation. Quail production in the Rolling Plains hit an all-time low, according to this year’s BBS, and biologists say every bobwhite that survives the winter will be critical to next year’s production.

“Burned areas will likely provide good habitat after future rainfall events but for now they offer very little cover for quail and other wildlife,” said Robert Perez, TPWD’s upland game bird program leader. “We’re advising landowners if you are seeing low quail numbers on your ranch, you should consider reducing quail harvest. It’s okay to hunt, work your dogs, but take a conservative approach. Flush a covey only once and don’t chase the singles or pairs, or limit how long you hunt.”

Perez also encourages quail hunting early in the season, which runs from October 29 through February 26. Find the best pockets of habitat and there should be at least a few birds to chase. In addition, consider habitat management practices that can improve quail plants on your property to increase available habitat and bird numbers.

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Bobwhite quail are the most numerous quail found in the Lone Star State. Furthermore, quail hunting in Texas is socially and economically important. But viable quail populations require suitable habitat. According to the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative, a coalition of wildlife professionals across 25 states, bobwhite quail populations have plummeted nationwide by as much as 80 percent over the past half century by some estimates.

In addition, entire suites of songbirds that depend on the same “quail habitat” of native grasslands and shrublands have recorded similar declines. The good news for quail hunters is that history has shown bobwhites can bounce back when the weather cooperates and suitable habitat is available. Ideal quail production occurs in years that remain wet and cool during the spring and early summer months because it extends the window of opportunity for nesting and reproduction.

“We need to manage quail habitat in preparation for those good years,” said Robert Perez of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “A majority of bobwhites don’t survive the first year even during good times; that’s why it takes more than one good year to bring numbers back. Quail hunting is not typically a limiting factor in areas with good habitat.”

Texas is taking a proactive, partnership strategy to address quail population declines in Texas through a coalition of state, federal and private stakeholders — the Texas Quail Conservation Initiative. By bringing all stakeholders to the table, the initiative can focus on landscape level conservation. Habitat management is the key to producing and maintaining quail habitat and providing quality quail hunting year after year. Without the required habitat, even good years will not be productive for quail populations.

The cooler weather is signaling that fall is upon us, so that means that it is time to talk Texas quail hunting. Like past years, quail hunting prospects for this year’s quail season are as scattered as a busted covey. Less-than-ideal range conditions have hampered production for the second straight year. Bobwhite quail hunting can be hit or miss in Texas considering these birds exist here on the very western edge of their distribution in the U.S.

Though we hear and read a lot about lost quail habitat, there are still vast expanses of suitable bobwhite habitat in the rangelands of South Texas and in the Rolling Plains. And the hunters know it. In some years, more than a hundred thousand hunters flock to these bobwhite haunts to pursue these wary game birds. Quail are limited in these regions by rainfall, more specifically the lack thereof.

This past winter was the second dry winter in a row. Dry conditions limit the availability of late winter and early spring greens, an important part of the quail diet. Of course some areas of Texas fared better than others and proper range and habitat management is also a part of the equation. Field reports indicate good carryover in parts of the Rolling Plains and to a lesser degree in northern South Texas.

The statewide quail season runs October 31 through February 28. The daily quail bag limit is 15 birds, with up to 45 in possession. Legal shooting hours for all non-migratory game birds are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The bag limit is the maximum number that may be killed during the legal shooting hours in one day.

Statewide quail surveys were initiated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in 1978 to monitor quail populations. This index uses randomly selected, 20-mile roadside survey lines to determine annual quail population trends by ecological region. This trend information helps determine relative quail populations among the regions of Texas. Comparisons can be made between the mean (average) number of quail observed per route this year and the long term mean (LTM) for quail seen within an ecological region. The quail survey was not designed to predict relative abundance for any area smaller than the ecological region.

According to TPWD wildlife biologists, the Rolling Plains region was not as dry this past winter as other areas of the state and scattered mid to late summer rains resulted in substantial production in some areas. Thick vegetation and late broods have likely resulted in an underestimate by TPWD roadside counts. Field reports are across the board this year, indicating localized effects of timely rainfall. Survey results and field staff observations predict a fair to average year. Due to the variation in weather conditions across this region it’s a good idea to scout ahead to be sure hunting areas are holding birds.

The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 6.6 compared to 18.7 last year. This is well below the LTM of 21.9. Despite low counts, enough young birds and coveys have been anecdotally reported that we suspect there will be good bobwhite hunter opportunity, especially in areas under good range management. Public hunting opportunities can be found at the Matador and the Gene Howe Wildlife Management Areas.

Unfortunately winter, spring and summer rains were lacking over most of South Texas, which likely increased over-winter mortality resulting in less carryover and also delayed nesting attempts by those birds that survived the winter. There has been scattered rainfall mid to late summer but not enough to trigger widespread nesting. September rains may spur some pairing and subsequent very late nesting. So there may be less than half grown birds at the beginning of the season. Overall, TPWD surveys predict a poor to fair season for South Texas. There will be fair to good opportunities on well managed sites that were proactive in grazing management decisions during this drought year.

The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 5.2 compared to 6.6 last year. This is well below the LTM of 18.9 and is predictive of a below average quail hunting season. The Chaparral and the Daughtrey Wildlife Management Areas provide public quail hunting opportunities.

The Trans-Pecos ecological region of Texas received great weather conditions midsummer that spurred scale quail reproduction. Greatly improved numbers have been confirmed by field reports and are reflected in TPWD’s survey results. Reports from the western edge of the Edwards Plateau (the Stockton Plateau) indicate poorer production than the rest of the region. We expect an average to good scaled quail season out west.

The average number of scaled quail observed per route was 16.9 compared to 6.7 last year. This is very close to the LTM of 17.8. Public hunter opportunities can be found at Elephant Mountain and Black Gap Wildlife Management Areas.

TPWD surveys indicate that bobwhite numbers in Gulf Prairies are down considerably from last year. Hunters should focus on the central and lower coast in native prairie habitats. The Cross Timbers and Edwards Plateau are well below their respective LTM’s. Although there are certainly areas within each region where some quail hunting opportunity remains, this survey is not designed to detect changes in localized populations, especially in fragmented landscapes. Quail hunting is always hit or miss, so practice before you go out to make the most of your time in the field.

Quail and the weather go hand-in-hand. During the winter of 2009, a 2 year dry spell in the major quail hunting areas of the Texas finally came to and end. Environmental conditions, nesting and brood rearing habitat greatly improved, setting the stage for a marked increase in quail production. Sound pretty good, huh?

Not so fast. Unfortunately, after two years of unfavorable weather, the number of quail available to breed has become quite low. In general, however, quail rebound fastest from the remaining pockets of survivors from last season. So depending on where you hunt, quail populations could range from fair to good. Here is how the historically good quail hunting portions of Texas look.

South Texas Plains

This region experienced a wet winter, spring and summer, which helped quail do their thing. South Texas also had very few days 100 degrees or greater. Cool-wet summers are ideal for quail reproduction but similar to the Rolling Plains, quail carryover was a limiting factor. Quail surveys conducted by TPWD indicate an increase in population compared to last year, but still below average across the region.

The best opportunities will be on well managed sites that held over birds from last year. The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 8.6 compared to 5.2 in 2009. This is off the average and is predictive of a below average hunting season.

Rolling Plains of Texas

This blessed portion of Texas received timely winter, spring and summer rainfall resulting in excellent breeding conditions for bobwhite quail. The summer rains extended the window of opportunity for nesting. If a hen failed in her first attempt, there was ample time for a second nesting.

The limiting factor this year was not the rain, but rather the number of birds available to breed. Field reports indicate that quail have made a strong comeback in areas that held birds last year. Other areas have improved as well but to a lesser extent.

Before you head out to your part of Texas to do some hunting, it’s a good idea to scout ahead to be sure the areas you plan to hunt are holding some quail. The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 8.0 compared to 6.6 last year. This is well below long-term average of 21.5, but some improvement is better than none.

Nothing is as important as the weather when it comes to quail hunting. Good, wet springs mean good quail production and hunting the falling fall. This year should be one of those years out in west Texas and the Trans-Pecos, at least for bobwhite. This region received timely rainfall while other areas of the State either missed the rains completely or received it at times less beneficial to scaled quail.

As a result, quail reproduction varied across the region, which is par for the course. Field reports indicate that quail can be found in areas with good range condition and providing good quail habitat. Reports from the western edge of the Edwards Plateau (the Stockton Plateau) indicate an improvement over last year but still populations that are below average.

The average number of scaled quail observed per survey route was 7.2 birds compared to 16.9 quail last year. This is below the long-term average of 17.5 quail. Scaled quail suffered through the dry period prior to this better-than-average year, but they have yet to fully rebound.

Quail are a socially and economically important species. Texas statewide quail surveys were initiated in 1978 to monitor quail populations. This index uses randomly selected, 20-mile roadside survey lines to determine annual quail population trends by ecological region. This trend information helps determine relative quail populations among the regions of Texas from year to year.

Comparisons can be made between the mean (average) number of quail observed per route this year and the long term mean (LTM) for quail seen within an ecological region. The quail survey was not designed to predict relative abundance for any area smaller than the ecological region, so only generalities for large areas can be made.

Bobwhite quail hunting can be hit or miss in Texas considering these birds exist here on the very western edge of their distribution in the U. S. There are still vast expanses of suitable bobwhite habitat in the rangelands of South Texas and in the Rolling Plains, where in some years over 100,000 hunters flock to pursue these wary upland game birds. Bobwhite quail are limited in these regions by rainfall, or more specifically the lack thereof. Wet years, on the other hand, mean let’s go hunting.

Go back in time about 50 years ago and the “old timers” will tell you that bobwhite quail were an abundant species in Texas. This secretive upland game bird thrived during a time when good quail habitat was being dotted with new, productive farming practices. Little did they realize, the good bobwhite quail hunting and bird population in Texas was riding on the coattails of the disappearing native bunch grasses that these seed-eating birds so desperately need. Not so much for food, but more importantly for nesting and overhead protective cover while traveling.

Quail Surveys in Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) designed the roadside quail survey in 1976 to track quail production trends at only the statewide and ecoregion spatial scales. The 20 mile routes were randomly assigned and most counties have either zero or one route. Staff runs each route only once during the first two weeks of August. Biologists record the number of singles, pairs, coveys, and number of quail within coveys for each quail species by 1 mile increments. The relative age of broods also is recorded.

Due to legislatively mandated budget cuts in 1988, all routes were discontinued in the Pineywoods, Post Oak Savannah, Blackland Prairies, and High Plains ecological areas. Certain quail routes in other ecological areas also were discontinued at this time. In 1993, many High Plains routes were once again reinitiated.

Roadside-Route Scale for Quail Surveys

Route counts are not replicated within a given year. For this reason, the number of quail observed during any single observation is not necessarily indicative of quail abundance in the general area of the route. For example, when routes are run on consecutive days it is common to see 3 birds one day and 30 the next. This occurs because quail often occur in groups (coveys). In reality, the observer just happened to see a pair and a single on the first day, and two coveys the next. For this same reason, observing 3 quail one year and 30 the next on a single route run once annually does not mean there are more quail in the area during year two. If the State wanted to track trends in quail abundance associated with a single route, they would have to run that route 20 to 30 times during the month of August.

Quail Surveys at the County Scale

Similarly, if one wanted to understand quail abundance trends in individual Texas counties, 20 to 30 routes scattered randomly through each county would be required. In that way, routes would be representative of the habitat types in the county. Additionally, enough routes would be used to avoid the problems associated with running routes only once (see above). Alternatively, one could run fewer routes multiple times. Data collected at this scale would be valuable to hunters, but the Department does not require such information for quail management purposes or the regulatory process. At any rate, TPWD does not have the resources to run thousands of routes.

Quail Surveys at the Ecological Area Scale

Instead, TPWD made the decision in the late 1970s to run 20-30 randomly chosen routes in each ecological area. By having several routes in a given ecoregion, the fact that any given route might have 3 quail one day and 30 the next does not matter—you see a hump-shaped distribution of quail abundance for the region. By chance, a few unusually low and high values are returned, but most observations occur somewhere in the middle. In this way, TPWD obtains reliable information on quail trends at this spatial scale. These data are then combined and used at the statewide scale. An independent perspective can be obtained via hunter surveys. Approximated 90% of the variation in the number of northern bobwhite and scaled quail bagged annually can be explained by the mean number of quail observed per survey route in a given ecological area.

Unfortunately, many folks have incorrectly assumed that data collected to provide information at the scale of ecoregions also are directly applicable at finer spatial scales (counties, habitat associated with a given route). For reasons described above, this is not so. This issue has confused the public and many wildlife biologists alike. One can glean only limited reliable information from these data at spatial scales finer than an ecoregion level.

Quail Surveys: Quail Abundance Data at Fine Scales

Quail hunters can obtain useful anecdotal information on quail abundance for counties or groups of counties from the TPWD District Leader responsible for that area. These individuals have their thumb on quail abundance in their District and will gladly share this knowledge with you. To find the District Leader responsible for your area of interest, please call TPWD Wildlife Information at 800-792-1112.

Without a doubt, the best way to obtain reliable data on quail abundance for individual pastures and ranches is to implement quail surveys designed for this purpose. Site-specific data will help with estimating numbers on on ranches and can help with quail hunting strategies. Numerous wildlife biologists are able and willing to help design and implement survey protocols to meet specific needs. Wildlife extension specialists from universities or TPWD can help. Additionally, private wildlife management consultants abound. Lastly, several excellent publications outline these survey methods. For example, see Dr. Fred Guthery’s “Beef, Brush, and Bobwhites: Quail Management in Cattle Country” (1986, CKWRI, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, pp. 132-145).

In the past, the bobwhite quail was taken for granted in Texas, distributed far and wide and good numbers. Fast forward about a quarter century and now researchers are wondering “what went wrong?” Quail populations have shown marked declines over several decades with no real cure in sight. Many not-so-old-timers will tell you that quail were bountiful around farm fields and ranches. Will quail numbers rebound? It seems difficult to say for sure, but here is a little about what we do know about quail distribution in Texas:

Source: “Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) are found throughout the Central and eastern United States from Minnesota and Massachusetts south to Florida and the Gulf Coast; and from Wyoming and southern Ontario, Mexico, parts of Central America, and Cuba. In Texas, Bobwhites have been found in every county of the Texas Panhandle and in every month of the year, although populations and habitat quality varies throughout the High Plains and Northern Rolling Plains physiographic regions. Annual populations fluctuate considerably and follow long-term cyclic rainfall patterns. Rainfall patterns throughout the year also influence vegetative growth of perennial grasses that provide nesting cover and forbs that produce seed important to bobwhites in their diet.

Insects are also an important food item, particularly for young quail. Woody escape cover is vital for quail to escape predators and for protection from the elements. In general, Northern Bobwhite are found in riparian and riverine bottom habitats, where tree thickets grow adjacent to pasture lands and relatively dense ground-level cover exists. In the eastern Panhandle, Northern Bobwhite typically occur in scrub oak woodland, riparian woodland, and in juniper-oak woodland. Although largely overlapping in their range, the Northern Bobwhite is replaced by the Scaled Quail in more xeric uplands, tributary canyons, and mesa slopes above river bottoms in association with mesquite or juniper savanna habitats.

Various land use practices influences the ability of habitat in the Panhandle to support populations of bobwhites (i.e., livestock grazing, farming practices, herbicide use, habitat management, predators, conversion of native rangelands to improved pastures. Higher populations of quail are traditionally found in the rangelands of the Northern Rolling Plains that in more arid rangeland characteristic of the High Plains. Large ranches with extensive contiguous acreages of varied and quality habitat offer the best opportunity to manage viable populations of this species and to sustain annual huntable populations. Standardized Roadside quail survey lines are counted each year by Wildlife Biologists in District 2 to gather information on annual and long term population trends.”