Few sounds on a Texas ranch match a covey flushing out of the grass, and this year there should be more of them. Quail season opens statewide on Sunday, Nov. 1, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said its August roadside surveys found bobwhites holding above their 15 year average in most ecoregions and scaled quail climbing sharply in the west. For landowners who lease bird hunting or simply enjoy it, Lee, Lee & Puckitt reviews what the surveys found and what they mean for ranch land.
Season Basics
According to TPWD’s 2026-27 regulations, the statewide quail season runs from Nov. 1, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2027. The daily bag limit is 15 birds and the possession limit is 45, covering bobwhite, scaled (blue) and Gambel’s quail. Hunters need an Upland Game Bird Endorsement. There is no open season for Montezuma quail.
What the August Surveys Showed
TPWD biologists drove more than 3,300 miles of roadside routes in early August, counting birds along the way. In an Oct. 14 release, the agency summarized the results:
- South Texas: Biologists averaged 10.17 bobwhites per route, a bit above the 15 year mean of 9.92. Timely rain and good habitat led to multiple hatches.
- Rolling Plains: Bobwhite counts were slightly lower than last year, but the agency still expects solid hunting.
- Edwards Plateau: Scaled quail counts jumped to 29.88 birds per route, up from 14.00 last year and far above the 15 year mean of 8.38.
- Trans Pecos: Late spring rain and excellent habitat boosted scaled quail nesting, with many broods observed.
TPWD noted that its surveys are designed to show regional trends, and that conditions on any one ranch can be quite different.
Public Hunting Options
The agency named several wildlife management areas for public hunters. Matador, Gene Howe and the newer 11,091 acre Teacup Mountain WMA offer bobwhite hunting in North Texas. Chaparral and James E. Daughtrey WMAs serve South Texas. Black Gap and Elephant Mountain WMAs in the Big Bend region are expected to be good for scaled quail. An Annual Public Hunting Permit is required on those lands.
Why Good Quail Years Matter to Landowners
Quail respond quickly to rain and habitat. A wet spring and early summer can turn a slow year into a good one, and a long drought can do the opposite. That makes quail a useful indicator of range health. When bunchgrass cover, forbs and brush are in balance, birds tend to follow.
On many Texas ranches, quail also bring in income. Bird hunting leases, day hunts and guest hunts can help offset taxes and upkeep, especially in the Rolling Plains, South Texas and parts of West Texas where wild quail have a long tradition.
Habitat Steps That Help Birds
- Leave nesting cover. Native bunchgrasses that stand through winter give hens places to nest in spring.
- Manage grazing. Moderate stocking leaves cover for birds while still supporting cattle.
- Keep some brush. Scattered low brush gives quail shade and escape cover. Total clearing removes it.
- Use prescribed fire where allowed. Fire can renew forbs and open thick areas, but it must follow local burn rules.
- Control predators and feral hogs. Hogs and some predators raid nests, so control efforts can help.
Quail and Ranch Value
Buyers who hunt often ask about bird numbers, cover and history. A ranch with a record of good coveys, healthy native grass and sound grazing practices can stand out in a market where recreation adds to value. Keeping notes on covey counts and harvest each season builds that record over time.
Talk With a Texas Ranch Broker
Lee, Lee & Puckitt helps buyers and sellers of hunting and working ranches across Texas. To talk about land with good quail habitat, call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Texas quail season open? Nov. 1, 2026, and it runs through Feb. 28, 2027, statewide, according to TPWD regulations.
What is the quail bag limit in Texas? 15 birds daily and 45 in possession, covering bobwhite, scaled and Gambel’s quail. An Upland Game Bird Endorsement is required.
Where are quail numbers strongest this year? TPWD expects good hunting especially in South Texas and the Trans Pecos, and its surveys showed a large jump in scaled quail on the Edwards Plateau.
How do I choose the best ranch broker for a Texas hunting ranch? Look for a Broker who understands wildlife habitat, water and recreation value, can show closed sales and can support a price with appraisal experience. Lee, Lee & Puckitt has sold Texas ranch land since 1962.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt is a ranch and farm brokerage based in San Angelo, where it has worked since 1977 after starting in Bronte in 1962. The firm handles sales, appraisals, Broker’s Price Opinions and landowner advocacy across Texas, and its partners are active ranchers.
Sources
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “Quail Surveys Indicate Another Quality Hunting Season on the Horizon,” Oct. 14, 2026: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20261014a
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Quail 2026-2027 Seasons and Regulations: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animals/quail
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Texas Ranch News: TPWD Deer Season Outlook
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colinus_virginianus_USFWS.jpg). Cropped.
