Timely rainfall benefited Texas wildlife and set the stage for a positive fall hunting season outlook, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Although more than half of the state is experiencing some form of drought, some eastern portions have seen above-normal precipitation since January.
“Many times, it’s not even how much rain an area receives, but when they receive it,” said Jacob Dykes, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Corpus Christi. “Late winter and spring rains greatly facilitate the growth of vegetation that provides both nutrition and habitat cover needed for a wide range of species.”
White-tailed deer
With a statewide population of roughly 5 million, Texas is home to more white-tailed deer than any other U.S. state.
Thanks to mostly positive environmental conditions leading up to the summer fawning season, Dykes said much of the state should see an abundance of new, healthy additions to the population.
“Gestation and lactation are especially stressful times for does, but thankfully, we have groceries on the ground in the form of vegetation to fulfill those nutritional requirements,” he said.
Following birth, this vegetation also provides critical cover to protect fawns from predators.
Dykes said does and fawns aren’t the only ones who benefit from abundant browse.
“Many bucks will experience an increase in body mass as well as antler size,” Dykes said. “The late summer months are when we see those final touches on antler growth, and bucks with access to abundant nutrition will do very well.”
Quail
While annual quail populations naturally fluctuate, Texas has seen a steady decline in both bobwhite and scaled quail over the past three decades, Dykes said.
While caused by several factors, loss of quality habitat is a leading component.
Although current bobwhite and scaled quail populations are lower than biologists would like to see, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department surveys indicate both populations are stronger than they have been since 2018.
“Right now, quail are in full reproductive mode,” Dykes said. “Here in South Texas, we have chicks on the ground, and males still call to attract mates. Populations seem to be in pretty good shape right now.”
However, Dykes emphasized these potentially short-term rebounds can vary by county and even by property depending on land-use practices.
“There are a lot of different reasons why we are having a tough situation with sustaining abundant quail and turkey populations, especially in the southeast portion of the state,” Dykes said. “Much of it comes down to land-use practices and management activities —many areas just don’t have adequate brooding cover to support the birds once they are hatched.”
Turkey
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported increased turkey nesting success and recruitment in 2023 thanks to abundant acorn production and warm, late winter conditions across much of the Rio Grande wild turkey range.
Dykes said the young turkeys, known as jakes, from the 2023 hatch should provide ample spring season hunting opportunities, although hunters may want to wait until the birds are a bit older.
“Two years and older are what most turkey hunters are after because they have the beard length and spurs that hunters appreciate,” Dykes said.
Dove
The 2023 dove season was a good one, and based on the latest Texas Parks and Wildlife dove surveys, the 2024 season shows great promise.
Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists estimate statewide populations of roughly 34 million mourning doves and a record-high 13 million white-wing doves.
Owen Fitzsimmons, Texas Parks and Wildlife webless migratory game bird program leader, said abundant precipitation across much of the state significantly contributed to these positive numbers.
“Conditions have been great overall, with the exception of some very dry areas in the Hill Country and Trans-Pecos, but some July rain may have helped there,” Fitzsimmons said. “I think we’re in for a good-to-excellent dove season in most areas.”
Fitzsimmons said areas that received summer rains should also see late-summer herbaceous growth that will serve as a food source for doves later in the season as well.
Changes to rules and regulations
Before taking to the field, Dykes said it is imperative that hunters familiarize themselves with the latest hunting rules and regulations.
This spring, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than a dozen modifications and clarifications to the 2024 and 2025 Statewide Hunting and Migratory Game Bird Regulations.
Among these changes are expanded days for white-tailed doe harvest in 43 counties in the Post Oak Savannah and Pineywoods ecoregions and reduced turkey bag limits or total turkey season closure within other counties.
“Wildlife are an important resource that contributes to the ecology, culture and economy of the state,” Dykes said. “It is critically important that we do our part to conserve and manage these diverse species with science-based data so we can continue to appreciate them for years to come.”
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
Rolling Plains
Extremely dry and sweltering conditions persisted across the district. A wide-spread rain would help reduce the wildfire risk, which remains exceptionally high with dried pasture grasses in the entire district. Most producers are having to supplement cattle with hay. Grasshoppers continued to plague everyone and were eating anything green.
Coastal Bend
Hot, dry weather continued with no significant rain, leading to declining topsoil and subsoil moisture. Corn and rice harvests were nearly complete, with corn yields ranging from 130-150 bushels per acre. Cotton harvest was 95% finished, with some areas delayed by rain. Hay fields were being cut and baled, but the harvest slowed due to dry conditions. Pastures were deteriorating and browning without rain. Pecan trees were shedding nut clusters prematurely. Livestock remained in good condition despite the dry weather. Cattle prices were holding steady at historic highs.
East
The district continued to need rainfall. Hot and windy weather made available soil moisture evaporate quickly. Signs of drought stress were evident. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate to good. Hay production continued. Armyworms remained a big problem for many producers. Cattle markets took a hit and were significantly lower compared to the previous week. Livestock were in fair to good condition with adequate amounts of grass to forage.
Southeast
Rice harvest was underway, and lots of hay was being bailed. Some counties reported good rainfall while others did not receive any, but rain was in the forecast for the district. Livestock were in fair condition. The lack of rain and drier conditions allowed hay fields to be harvested. Grasshoppers were showing up in several locations. Row crops were on schedule but were starting to show stress due to lack of moisture. Corn harvest was underway, and yields were good. Cotton bolls were starting to open, and the sorghum harvest was wrapping up. Producers were making a third cutting of hay. Despite the heat, pastures and ponds were looking good. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied from poor to excellent while soil moisture levels were very short to adequate.
South Plains
Conditions were challenging for producers, with temperatures above 100 degrees during the day with not much cool down in the evening. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were struggling due to the extreme heat. Previous weeks of hot and dry weather wreaked havoc on crops. Dryland cotton yields were expected to be below average due to the lack of rainfall and extreme heat. Irrigated crops were in fair condition, and some producers were unable to stop irrigation due to needed moisture to survive the heat. Cotton was shedding mature bolls due to heat. Corn and sorghum were maturing and drying up fast. Cucumber harvest continued. Black-eyed peas were near harvest. Cattle were in good condition despite the record heat. High temperatures, wind and no moisture continued to dry out pasture and rangeland.
Panhandle
Temperatures in the district reached above 100 degrees each day with little to no moisture. Most corn and cotton producers ceased irrigation due to crop maturity levels. Wheat pre-plant preparation continued. Irrigated wheat planting was expected to start soon for fall stocker pasture. Sorghum continued to develop. Producers were harvesting earlier planted corn and sorghum fields for forage. Some dryland fields were suffering due to heat and dry conditions. Rangelands continued to dry down, and grass was no longer growing. Grasshopper numbers were heavy. Overall soil moisture was reported from short to very short. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to very poor, and overall crops reported good to poor.
North
Subsoil moisture levels were adequate to short, and topsoil was short and very short. Pasture and rangelands were mostly fair to good with some counties reporting very poor to poor. Lack of rain combined with high temperatures created dry, dusty conditions, and pastures and vegetation suffering. Despite the drought environment, livestock were in good condition. Most crop fields were harvested or baled for hay. The corn harvest concluded. The grape and fig harvests continued, and grain sorghum was expected to begin soon. Grass growth in pastures was lower than expected, considering ample spring/early summer moisture. Irrigated okra was producing well. Armyworms affected some locations, but populations were declining due to hot and dry conditions. Grasshoppers affected pastures, and leaf hoppers created cosmetic damage to grapes.
Far West
This was the hottest overall week of the summer, with a heat index of 108 degrees and lows in the high 70s. The Permian Basin desperately needed rain to improve rangeland, cropping and soil moisture conditions. The cotton crop was surviving but the heat has taken a toll, and fields have shed a tremendous number of bolls and squares. Cotton was showing extreme stress by mid-morning, with many fields not recovering overnight and showing stress all day. Yield expectations have come down. Corn and sorghum harvests were complete, with both performing below expectations. Livestock were in poor to fair condition. Pastures remained bare, and the amount of cattle in the district kept dropping. In the Rio Grande Vally, Pima cotton continued to thrive in high temperatures with plenty of water. Upland cotton looked good, but some fields were struggling. Pecan orchards looked healthy overall, and crop loads were about average. Alfalfa was being cut.
West Central
Weather conditions in the area were extremely hot and dry, with temperatures consistently exceeding 100 degrees and peaking at an all-time high of 113 degrees. Despite some scattered showers bringing up to 2 inches of rain in some locations, most areas remained critically dry. Heat and no rain were in the forecast. The persistent heat resulted in severe drought stress across crops and pastures, with nearly all summer forage growth halted. Many trees were showing signs of drought stress. The lack of moisture caused soil to dry out significantly, complicating field preparation for fall planting and contributing to poor crop conditions. Cotton plants were wilting under hot, dry conditions. Livestock were in fair condition overall but were suffering from the excessive heat. Producers were providing supplement feed and managing dwindling water supplies in stock tanks. Reports of armyworms and grasshoppers persisted.
Southwest
Hot conditions were taking a toll on soil moisture. Temperatures reached 105 degrees with no rainfall reported. A cool front was in the forecast with a chance of rain. Corn and grain sorghum harvests continue with average yields reported. Cotton harvest is set to start next week. Pecan orchards continued to progress, and aphid populations remained relatively low. However, parasitic wasp populations were particularly high in some orchards. Pastures and rangelands continued to decline, and a burn ban was in effect. Some hay was being cut. The intense heat and lack of moisture caused stress for livestock seeking shade instead of grazing. Lamb and goat weaning was underway, and livestock were in fair condition. Producers were heavily culling herds again and supplementing both livestock and wildlife. Whitetail deer remained active but have slowed down a bit due to the heat.
South
Conditions were hot and dry, with some areas experiencing humidity, windy conditions or occasional spotty showers. Extremely hot temperatures ranging from 100-110 daily and no rainfall were taking a toll on rangeland and pasture conditions. Cotton harvest continued for producers who decided fields were worth harvesting. Others were shredding and plowing their cotton. Poor lint quality led to about one-third of the acres being harvested and two-thirds being shredded. Drier pastures resulted in a high fire risk. All grain crops were harvested, and farmers should wrap up the cotton harvest soon. Citrus was being irrigated and sprayed for insects, but trees were showing signs of heat and drought stress. The persistent dry weather reduced forage availability. Some ranchers were reducing stocking rates to prevent further degradation of rangelands. Many woody species, like mesquite, were thriving due to the drought. Supplemental feeding of tubs, molasses/protein/minerals was necessary. Hay cutting and bailing continued. Planting was underway for fall vegetable crops, and farmers were beginning to prepare fields for winter crops. Livestock water remained critical for producers who rely on stock tanks. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions declined due to the excessive heat. Producers were providing water for their ponds to help wildlife. Beef cattle prices remained very high. Local markets were reporting an uptick in sale numbers compared to last month, with prices remaining steady and strong for all classes of beef cattle. Wildlife seemed to be doing well despite the heat and drought.
