Texas Parks and Wildlife Department quail forecast for 2017-18 predicts overall strong quail numbers, though this season is down from the boom numbers of last year. Weather plays a key role in the annual boom-bust cycle in semi-arid regions where two to three consecutive years of favorable conditions usually results in a boom year. There are still vast expanses of suitable bobwhite habitat in the rangelands of South Texas and the Rolling Plains.

• Rolling Plains: above average
• Trans Pecos: good
• South Texas Plains: good
• Gulf Prairies: below average, up from last year

For more information on the 2017-18 hunting forecast, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/planning/quail_forecast/forecast/.