We've had good rain here in my area, south of DFW. And we're heading into a surplus it seems, more rain this weekend.
Since rain = good quail production, how about some rain / bird reports from around the Lone Star State?

Well, I'm seeing lots of pairs out west. Monahans, Pecos, Mentone, Balmorhea areas. Havn't seen any chicks yet tho. Kinda surprising.

Dale, the birds here are MORE than I have seen in the last two years. That 100 acres that we hunted, burned this last fall. I'm with poisonivie, lots of pairs but no little ones.

In Duval Co...

I have been seeing steady pairs from the first of March till now. Saw my first chicks (several groups) flying 2 weeks ago and also saw two coveys of adult birds (~8-9 birds), but still most adult birds are being seen in pairs. Pastures and disturbed areas from winter discing are covered in forbs and knee high croton across the southern part of the county from the late May/early June rains we had. In early mornings and late evenings these areas are covered up with birds feeding on insects. More rain in the forecast over the next week, so if we continue to get it through July and August, we should see numbers that will compare to the last two years.

Saw my first chicks today, about half the size of Momma.

The fellow that cuts hay for me told me today that he saw a rooster and a hen near his house just outside of Bardwell.
Not many quail spotted in that part of the state for years.

I grew up near Bardwell in a little community called Rankin. Went on my first Quail hunt there.

John,
Our farm is in Rankin. Right down the road from what used to be the Rankin Store. FM 984.
The fellow that saw the quail is named Bacak.

I bet we know some of the same folks.

My Father owned The Rankin store in the mid 70's-mid 80's. I grew up across the road from the store. I quail and Rabbit hunted all around there. Was a lot of Quail in the 70's and 80's.

Our place is the Turner Farm, owned by the grandmother back then, Mrs. Ramsey. I used to go to the Rankin Store for beer, rat cheese and hangdown. This was in the early 90s. A mailman we called Grumpy owned it then.

I've released a lot of quail there over the past dozen years or so, working dogs. I know some have survived down in Onion Creek.

I remember The name Ramsey. Yep, half moon cheese and hang down was the deal back then, top off with a cold beer. I moved to Dallas chasing the dream after I graduated in 1980, Dad died in 2003 and Mom moved to Grand Prairie with my sister about six years ago. I sold their house and haven't been back since. Don't know if I'll ever see Rankin again, just no reason to go back now.

I spent a lot of days in that old store, use to run it for Dad after school and in the Summers. Thanks for the memories.

Good to know, John. All the times I've hunted at your place and never knew.
Seems like everybody knows somebody that you know.
Pretty neat.

I found this old pic of Dad and the store before he passed, store had been closed down for a few years. This was probably 2000-2002 sometime. Thinking back I think he sold it about 1987.

my boots on the ground in fisher and kent county tell be he is seeing a few broods and lots of pairs. Dry and needs a rain and lower temperatures

Saw first set of new birds yesterday in Irion co. About 2" tall and about 12 of them.

Had a 2" rain Friday that should definitely be beneficial.

Sounding pretty good.
Especially the chick report.

Looks like our kent co place got another good rain today. Can't wait to go get disappointed by the rain gauge. My Tom Green co place has had 2.85 inches since Friday with tons of pairs. My lease in Big Lake seems to not be able to get anything.

Lots of rain in Childress

Buddy of mine said the Paducah / Chilress area is lush and packed with birds.

Seeing lots of pairs and a few groups of chicks in Donley, Gray, Hutchinson, Moore and Oldham counties. I think it's going to be another banner year.

Great news.

Had a pair run across hwy 79 east of Wichita Falls yesterday morning.

40 years ago that would have been everyday 2-3 times a day there.

I was working in the petrolia area this week. I haven't been in that part of the state for a couple years. It's really green and all the tanks are full

Nice rain out west last night, things looking better.

Was at my lease in Turkey. There was lots of rain and boy were the birds out. I was scouting the terrain to put out deer feeders and saw quail in every terrain...Even in the sage flats. I noticed most of the birds were in grassy ditches with water in them.

We have had rains in Throckmorton of 8+ , 2 & 2.5 inches in the last 3 weeks . Hope they all know how to swim..

Things are looking very good where we go.

Stamford has received average rain so far. One of our spots is there.
Our other is near Childress and they are about 3" above normal, so far.

Seeing lots of pairs in evening and early morning hearing lots of calls from coveys! Southwest of Odessa in Ector and Crane counties, the rain has helped alot in past couple of years! Hunting in sand hills need leggings and boots for dogs since snakes and burs will be problem. Saw 3 coveys last year hanging around my dove hunting spot and should be more this year.

Great reports.
Appears like another great year on tap.

Avoided running over a pair in the hi way this afternoon just across red river east of Wichita Falls

I saw a lot of bird this morning on the highway.

I saw 8 pairs between Rotan and Hamlin. Saw three pairs between Hamlin and Old Glory. One pair between Old Glory and Rule and three pairs between Rule and Katz oil field.

This survey was done at 80 MPH, so I'm sure I missed seeing them if they weren't crossing the blacktop.

That's always a good sign when you see them on the roadway

Sometimes I think all surveys are done at 80.

Anybody got a report from around Paducah? Rain? Bird count?

Shot sporting clays yesterday about 5 miles north of Amarillo. The ranch that the course is on was LOADED with quail. Saw pairs, chicks and lots of birds that were nearly full size. Bobs and Blues, probably 15 groups total.

I just received an excellent quail report from the San Angelo area. Little ones were running around all over the ranch!

Just got a report from the Noodle area. Lots of pairs, a few coveys, 1 covey of bumblebees. Lots of birds in the ditches

Just got back from place in Paducah......lots of birds. Varying sized coveys. Lots of young birds and several bumblebees. Still an awful lot of pairs too. Place looks great....lots of grass and cover. Hopefully it stays like this and the birds are there in November. I was a little surprised at the amount of 3-4-5 bird per coveys. But all in all it was very good.

Another report from the Noodle TX area. Pairs everywhere & several bumblebees.

Was in Reagan County yesterday- Lots of half grown blues on the ground. Green where I was, some areas have received good rainfall.

Pecos, Reeves, Winkler and Loving counties are covered up with blues. Bumblebees, half grown and pairs.

Went to feed cows, finally seen a pair with 7 chicks. And 2 other just pairs.

Spent several days at my place in Dickens county. Most of the rain has circled my place however bobs look promising. spotted numerous pairs and several coveys of 10 or more. Keeping my fingers crossed for another banner year!!!!!!!!!!! Lost my dog last month so I'll be starting over in September with a new best friend.

Similar to my reports in kent county

Went to another ranch in potter county just north of Amarillo on Saturday morning to fish a pond. I bet we saw 15-20 pairs of both bobwhite and blue quail, but only 2 of those pairs had chicks with them....not sure if they left them at the nest, or just plain didn't have any? Little bit concerning this time of year to have not seen any. Anybody have any thoughts on that?