Wings Over Texas

Written by Colton Lusson
Vol 5
july - september 2026

Tuning up for the Season

Grab your Gear!

As opening day approaches, the latest TPWD quail forecast signals another quality season across the Lone Star State. Above-average bird numbers across most ecoregions -anchored by strong bobwhite carryover and an incredible surge in scaled quail numbers out west -reflect the power of quality habitat and timely rain.

Texas Bobwhite Quail Forecast

National Pheasant Forecast

National Quail Forecast

Chapter Spotlight

Central Texas

QF + Duck Camp Social

Great food, cold drinks, and gear giveaways! We had a full house of 50 guests at our 2nd Annual QF + Duck Camp Social enjoying local taco truck eats and sipping on "Cold Fashioned" summer cocktails expertly crafted and donated by Still Austin Distillery.

Heart O’ Texas Quail Tune-Up

In Waco, 50 shooters lined up at the 2nd Annual Quail “Tune-Up” Fundraiser to sharpen their aim ahead of dove and quail season. Entry featured 100 clays, post shoot refreshments/lunch, door prizes, and live auction - with 100% of event proceeds going to the chapter to support mission

Lone Star

Dove Tune-Up

Just outside Fort Worth, a dozen shooters gathered at Northlake Shooting Sports for a casual warm-up shoot. At just $20 per person for a round of clays, lunch, and a shot at door prizes, it was easily one of the best deals in town!

Rolling Plains

Chapter Clay Shoot

Just ahead of opening dove season, the local Sweetwater Chapter hosted its 2nd Annual Clay Shoot Fundraiser! Chapter leaders set up a great course, served up lunch, and offered exclusive Quail Forever raffle prizes - raising funds to fuel local habitat and conservation mission.

State of the Union

Thomas Janke - State Coordinator

Unless you were a successful ‘snowbird’, you know firsthand that most of the state was VERY HOT and VERY DRY these past 3 months.  And though that made it challenging to accomplish everything we may have wanted to in preparation for the coming hunting/winter seasons, it did further exemplify the need and value for quality habitat and range management across our state.  Those areas that had quality grass, shade, and groundcover, were able to help our wildlife (quail and many other species) and livestock make it through the summer extremes, and also allow those areas to more efficiently rebound once the rains returned.  Time, boot leather, and good hunting companions will ultimately help unravel how well our wildlife survived and recruited more individuals to this point.

Through it all though, our/your TX PFQF staff stayed focused and mission-driven this past quarter:

  • >350 landowner contacts

  • >100 site visits

  • Technical guidance provided on nearly 100,000 acres of property

  • 9 conservation plans prepared for 3,000 acres of habitat improvements

  • Assisted with 6 Rx burns (totaling >800 acres)

  • Involved with multiple E&O events

  • Build-out of new 225-gal spray unit for our Rx fire truck:

May you each have a Blessed and enjoyable fall/winter, and when possible, make a point to (re)introduce someone to the things that make you most excited about our outdoors!

Take care and God Bless!

Thomas

Habitat Hint

In addition to triple digits (hopefully) being in the rearview mirror (at least for a handful of months), recent rainfall Blessings across the state, and hunting seasons upon us, there are amble reasons to be enjoying the outdoors this time of year.  While you’re out, make point to go cut and/or grub some undesirable trees and shrubs on your property such as juniper (i.e., cedar), mesquite,  yaupon, or other invasive plants.  In addition to creating some better habitat, and fine-tuning those muscles/tools, you may be opening new areas to hunt or run your dogs, and even be collecting some quality wood for future BBQs and/or campfires.  Make sure to know which species you’re dealing with; if they are a re-sprouter, you will likely want to grub below the bud zone and/or use herbicides if your goal is to not have the tree grow back with a vengeance next year.  A good resource for varying herbicide treatment options for each of your brush species can be found HERE. If you’d like some assistance with your habitat management goals, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local PFQF biologist; they can help with habitat assessments and planning, connecting you with possible funding and/or other helpful resources, and possibly even assist you directly with completion of your projects.

Upcoming Events

Colton Lusson
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Wings Over Texas