Wings Over Texas: Vol 2

Written By Colton Lusson

Oct - Dec 2025

Weather and Habitat. These are the twin pillars of upland success, and this season, they’ve aligned in our favor.

Thanks to a timely, wet summer, bird populations have flourished in some regions. We’re seeing a significant surge in Bobwhite Quail populations throughout the South and Rolling Plains, while Scaled Quail are seen sprinting across the Permian Basin. Further north, the Panhandle opened it’s Pheasant season for a brief 30 days. Hunters praise as ring-necks flush again, after several dry and quiet seasons.

Nature provided the rain, but your dedication as a PF/QF member helped provide the cover needed to protect the flourishing populations withstand predators, and chilly days ahead. As we wrap up Pheasant season and begin the 4th quarter of quail season, here are some shots from the field sent in by our members:

State of the Union

Thomas S. Janke - State Coordinator

I don’t know about y’all, but these past couple of months have been a blur for me.  From hunting seasons being in full swing, to holiday get-togethers and travels, to closing out projects for the calendar year, life has been busy.  Our Texas PF/QF staff have been very busy as well.  The first half of the quarter was met with challenges and opportunities as we navigated our way through this recent and historic government shutdown.  Luckily, we were Blessed to find ways to successfully keep all of our Texas staff afloat so they could continue assisting landowners and partners with their habitat efforts.  Here is a look at our team’s performance this past quarter…

Q2 Statistics (October - December)

  • 150+ landowner contacts

  • 25+ site visits (resulting in technical guidance provided on ~11,000 acres)

  • Development of conservation plans on 7,000+ acres

  • Assisted with implementation of 8 prescribed burns across 5 properties (totaling 3,000 acres) See blue icons below

Map of implemented Rx burns between from Oct-Dec (Early Dormant Season) and Jul-Sep (Late Growing Season).

Staff Updates

We also had some staff changes this past quarter.  We are excited to have Ms. Jocelyn Hernandez join our team as our TX Mid-Coast Coordinating Wildlife Biologist (CWB; based out of Edna, TX).  We were also saddened to have Mr. Garrett Rushing (former CWB based out of Lamesa) leave – though we are excited for him and his wife to be able to move back closer to home as they grow their family.  We have since decided to relocate the Lamesa position to Snyder, TX to best align with the needs of our quail constituents and our partners. 

Jocelyn Hernandez

Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Edna, TX - (Map: Updated Staff Offices)

jhernandez@quailforever.org

Exciting Update

Lastly, I am excited to share that our organization signed MOUs this past quarter with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that will allow our organization (staff and chapters) to be able to more easily work with these organizations on enhancing/restoring habitat on the public lands managed by them.  Click HERE for recent news release about MOU with USACE.


Thanks again for all of the continued support towards our efforts.  God Bless!

 

Thomas S. Janke

Chapter Headline Trio

Colton Lusson - Regional Rep

  1. A Winning Tradition - Top O’ Texas Chapter Delivers Premier Banquet

Amarillo, TX

The Top O’ Texas Quail Forever Chapter knocked it out of the park once again this past October. Thanks to proactive planning, popular auction items, and a dedicated membership base, the banquet was a sizeable success. With nine sponsor tables filled and 26 live auction items sold, the energy was high—and the smoked quail dinner was, as always, the talk of the night. Big shoutout to James Culp and his team for putting on another excellent event.

2. Blues in the Basin: Building Community at Bass Pro

Odessa, TX

West Texas Quail Forever recently helped debut the new Bass Pro Shops in the Permian Basin. Throughout the event, Chapter Treasurer, John Perez, received numerous reports of strong scaled quail populations across the region. John is seeking volunteers to join his team to help plan and execute upcoming community events. West Texas’ goal is to support the local quail populations while also building a lasting community of hunters and conservationists.

3. Gulf Coast’s Competitive Fundraiser

For several years, the Gulf Coast Quail Forever Chapter, under the leadership of President Scott Wilson, have hosted their semi-annual tower shoot fundraiser in Columbus, TX at the Top Flight Hunting Preserve. Back in November, 60 shooters took their stations in a grand circle to test their skill. As is tradition, the shoot concludes with local Texas BBQ and several PF/QF items raffled off.

Next Tower Shoot is scheduled for this Saturday, Feb 7th.

Habitat Hints: Winter Edition

Thomas S. Janke

As our hunting seasons begin to wind down, this is not only a good time to recollect and savor the memories and flavors of your recent outdoor adventures, but also start preparing for the season(s) ahead.  Winter may not be inviting to be outside working, but it’s a fantastic time to be reviewing and/or (re)composing wildlife/habitat management plans for your property(s).  Though we may not be actively pursuing animals year-round, they need quality habitat year-round to survive and reproduce.

  • Your local QF biologist can help assist you with those ideas/discussions if you desire.

  • Winter is also a great time to be disking strips in/around your fields.  These will help grow early successional plants/forbs such as sunflowers, croton (aka dove weed), and ragweed – which are all beneficial for quail and dove.  These disk strips can also temporarily serve as fire breaks (before they are grown up with vegetation).  *If doing for wildlife plots, do NOT re-disc or shred until August or later (allowing the plants to grow and ripen their seeds).

  • PF/QF’s Habitat University (HU) is a FREE, skills-based habitat and conservation training resource for students, biologists, landowners, chapters, contractors, land managers, and habitat DIYers.  HU offers flexible online learning, certificates, hands-on opportunities, and bundle badges to help you succeed in your habitat projects.  You can take this any time of year, with new courses regularly being added, but what better time of year than now – when you’re enjoying the warmth of your home and savoring the flavors of your wild game soups/stews – to be expanding your knowledge and ideas for habitat improvements on your property(s).

Team Member Shoutout

William Burkhead

Prescribed Fire Coordinator

Colton Lusson

At just 27 years old, Denison native William Burkhead is on the cusp of 100 Rx Burns

Prior to stepping into his current role as Prescribed (Rx) Fire Coordinator in the fall of 2024, Will served as the Public Hunting Coordinator, where he was instrumental in helping Texans navigate and locate hunting access opportunities across the state.

Today, his mission has shifted from access to enhancement and restoration. While there are a few methods for enhancing and restoring land, Rx Fires have proven to be the most efficient, and effective practice. As the case with all our team members, Will is a road warrior; covering the entire state of Texas, ensuring that every burn project is executed with pinpoint safety and efficiency. 97 of them, and counting…

Why We Burn: Restoring the Native Seed Bank

For Will and the entire Conservation Operations Team, fire isn't just a tool; it’s a necessity for Texas wildlife. It’s a competition between natives vs. non natives; invasive grass species like KR Bluestem and encroaching woody species like mesquite and juniper trees are prone to take over valuable upland habitat. What is most amazing is the impact of a burn is almost immediate; it is not uncommon to see quail walking over the warm blackened fields. Within a few months, the native grasses can be shin high.

Life Off the Clock

When he isn't managing smoke and embers, Will is a dedicated family man. Currently residing in Granbury with his wife, Ashley, their two children—Daniel (3) and Whitney (1)—and their loyal yellow lab, Liberty, he stays true to his Texas roots. You’ll likely find him hunting, fishing along the coast, or hiking and camping Big Bend with his family.

I sat down with Will to ask a few rapid-fire questions about his journey, the future of PF/QF, and what it’s like to manage the Rx fires across the Lone Star State:

Q: What was it that drew you to PF/QF? What gets you most excited about working for this organization?

A: I get to see some really cool properties across Texas, get to help landowners burn, & have a great Texas team to work with.

Q: Looking back at your time here, is there a specific project that stands out as one you are most proud of?

A: Palo Duro Water District Burn Project. 9,000 acres of public and habitable land that we are continuously chipping away at, and seeing some great results from the local bobwhite population.

Q: With the warmer months approaching, which PF/QF events are you most looking forward to this Spring and Summer?

A: Texas High Plains Conservation Weekend (PDWD) in early May. Last year’s monumental burn and educational event won 1st place National Hands-on Habitat award of the year. We are excited to turn it into an annual Education & Outreach event for chapter volunteers, and local students. Rx fires have been a trending topic, not just in Texas, but in the entire country. We are expecting an huge gathering that weekend.

Q: Texas is primarily private land. How important are partnerships, such as our PF/QF chapters, in bridging the gap between private land and conservation goals?

A: Extremely important! 97% of the state is privately owned, which means we've got a lot of landowners that can be doing great work for the uplands. Chapters do an excellent job of pushing our mission and encouraging landowners to partner with us.

Q: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing Texas upland habitat today, and how is PF/QF uniquely positioned to solve it?

A: I think the biggest challenge in Texas are properties that are allowing non-natives to take over and choke out the native grasses/shrubs that quail and other wildlife need to survive. We can solve this by educating the public about the benefits of clearing out those non-natives, support landowners in execution of removal, and hopefully spread the word to their neighbors so we collectively can build a habitable landscape for not just quail/pheasants, but all wildlife.

Q: For our members or donors reading this, what is one tangible thing they can do tomorrow to support habitat in their own "backyard"?

A: Start looking at how you can manage for upland habitat: Rx fire, brush removal, native grass/forb planting. Reach out to a biologist to get good work going. Donate to help support on the ground efforts like Rx Fire.

Our Texas Team Wish List

Kyle Lusson - Development Officer

Our mission runs on boots-on-the-ground conservation work — and that work depends on the right tools. This “Wish List” gives our members and supporters a clear look at the equipment that helps us deliver habitat projects, access remote landscapes, and serve local chapters more effectively. When you support an item on this list, you’re directly investing in conservation impact across our landscapes:

3/4-Ton 4WD

Crew Cab Work Truck (gas or diesel)

Purpose:

This vehicle allows our staff and volunteers to tow equipment, reach remote project sites, transport materials, and safely travel long distances to support habitat and outreach efforts.

Specs Needed:

  • 3/4 ton

  • Crew cab

  • 4 wheel drive

  • 8’ bed

How You Can Help: Support toward this vehicle can be given through direct donation, vehicle sponsorship, or in-kind contributions through dealerships or individuals.

Polaris Ranger XD 1500 Premium

Purpose:

This UTV helps our team access habitat projects, transport gear, move seed and tools, and navigate properties that trucks can’t reach. It is a critical asset for on-site conservation work.

Key Specs Needed:

  • Crew cab configuration (Seats 6)

  • Windshield (Preferred)

  • Winch (Preferred)

How You Can Help: Members and partners can assist through direct gifts, sponsorships, or by connecting us with dealership or industry partnerships.

Reach out if you want to help fulfill a Wish List item!

klusson@quailforever.org

512-289-5921

Or make a gift today through our secure donation page

Donate Today

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