Texas hunters are heading into the 2026 fall season with generally encouraging prospects, with strong dove populations, a solid outlook for white-tailed deer and summer rainfall helping improve habitat conditions in several areas of the state.
Available population surveys and precipitation trends indicate hunters across much of Texas can expect an average-to-good season for key game species. While conditions vary by region, dove numbers are particularly strong heading into the Sept. 1 season opener, while deer, quail and turkey populations have benefited to varying degrees from timely summer rainfall.
Dove Populations Near Record Highs
Dove hunters have plenty of reason for optimism this year. Spring population surveys conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimated the state is home to approximately 36.7 million mourning doves, a 2% increase from last year. White-winged dove numbers showed an even larger increase, climbing 10% to an estimated 12.9 million birds.
Those estimates put both mourning and white-winged dove populations near record highs as hunters prepare for opening day. Conditions are particularly encouraging in South Texas, where record-high dove populations were reported ahead of the season.
White-Tailed Deer Outlook Remains Solid
White-tailed deer hunters can also anticipate a solid season across much of Texas. The spring began dry, with 84% of the state experiencing some level of drought during the first full week of April, but significant summer rainfall brought relief to several drought-stricken areas, particularly the Edwards Plateau and Southwest Texas.
The timing of that rainfall was important for deer because improved vegetation provides nutrition for does during late gestation and lactation while also supporting antler development in bucks. The most substantial period of antler growth generally occurs from June through early August, making the availability of quality summer forage especially important.
Conditions are not uniform across the state, however. Hot and dry weather later in the summer caused range conditions to deteriorate in a number of regions. In Southwest Texas, white-tailed deer were still reported to be in good condition, although they were visiting feeders heavily as natural forage declined.
Quail Outlook Expected to Be Average
Statewide quail survey results are not yet available, but the overall outlook is expected to be around average based largely on summer precipitation. June brought beneficial rainfall to many areas during an important period for brood rearing, helping provide vegetation for nesting and protective cover as well as supporting insect populations that young quail rely on for food.
Regional differences could be significant. Spring call counts conducted at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation’s 4,800-acre ranch recorded 43 bobwhite calls per stop in 2026, down from 92 calls per stop in 2025. The decline is believed to be at least partially related to below-average rainfall across the region, illustrating how quickly quail populations can respond to changing precipitation and habitat conditions.
Turkey Hunters Face New Harvest Restrictions
Wild turkey populations also remain an area of concern following declines across portions of Texas. Annual bag limits were changed earlier this year to allow the harvest of only gobblers and bearded hens in counties where either sex had previously been open for hunting.
Initial observations from summer surveys indicate young birds and new additions to turkey populations across the state. Early drought delayed hatches across much of South Texas, but rainfall beginning in April improved conditions enough to support some production. Although turkey numbers may be somewhat lower in several regions this year, three years of average-to-above-average recruitment have helped maintain birds on the landscape.
Hunters Asked to Watch for New World Screwworm
Hunters will also play an important wildlife-monitoring role this fall following confirmed cases of New World screwworm in Texas in June. The timing raised particular concern because it overlapped with white-tailed deer fawning season, potentially leaving both does and fawns vulnerable to infestation.
No New World screwworm cases have been confirmed in Texas wildlife to date, which wildlife experts consider an encouraging sign. However, undetected cases remain possible, and landowners, ranchers and wildlife biologists continue monitoring animals for evidence of infestation.
Texas’ more than half a million white-tailed deer hunters will provide another valuable layer of observation as they scout and spend time in the field this fall. Hunters who notice suspected signs of New World screwworm in wildlife are asked to immediately contact a local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist or call 512-389-4505.
Overall, Texas hunters appear to be heading into a promising fall season, particularly for dove and white-tailed deer. Quail and turkey opportunities will depend more heavily on regional conditions, but timely rainfall in portions of the state has helped improve habitat and support wildlife heading into the fall.
