Quail hunting season is set to begin across Texas on Oct. 26, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) annual roadside survey indicates a positive outlook for hunters. A combination of improved habitat and scattered, timely rainfall has resulted in an increase in bobwhite and scaled quail populations.“This is good news for quail and for many across rural Texas,” said John Mc-Laughlin, TPWD upland game bird program leader. “While habitat is the main driver of long-term population trends, annual weather patterns, especially rainfall, significantly influence yearly fluctuations. As drought conditions have eased, habitat has improved, and quail populations have ...