Bargain Hunting

The beginning of another long-line of fall hunting seasons is still several months away, but there is no time like the present to start thinking about your options. Plenty of good ones are up for grabs this year through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s “Drawn Hunt” program.
In my book, the program represents a great opportunity to participate in what may be the best low cost, high quality hunting option available to Texas hunters.
Each year, the lottery-style program awards thousands of permits that allow hunters to go after all sorts of wild game on well managed public lands that typically see limited hunting traffic.
In most cases, it only costs $3-$10 for adults to apply. Some of the hunts have no application fee at all. Selected adults pay a special permit fee of $80-$130, depending on the duration of the hunt. Youths under 17 always hunt for free.

Up and Running

Registration for the list of drawn hunts available this fall went live on July 1 on TPWD’s website, tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/public_hunt_drawing/.
There, hunters can browse or download the current catalog, set up an account, apply for unlimited hunts, check status and purchase any permits required to participate if you are selected.
You can also view application deadlines, maps of the hunt areas and learn details regarding rules, bag limits, legal methods and the number of permits available. TPWD also lists the number of applicants and success rates from last season.
There was a time when hunters could enter for drawn hunts by conventional mail, but those days have long since passed. The only way to enter now is online using a computer or Smart Phone, and a valid credit card to pay a nominal application fees for chosen hunts.
Participants are selected by random computer draw. Draws are typically carried out on the first business day after the application deadline. Chosen hunters are notified by e-mail.
The list of hunts available this season is a big one, according to TPWD public hunting coordinator Kelly Edmiston.
Edmiston said around 9,400 hunting permits are available in 62 different categories. About 4,800 permits are for hunts on state-run wildlife management areas, state parks, public hunt lands and private lands.
Additionally, there are 3,000 permits for hunts on select national wildlife refuges, 1,225 antlerless permits for use on U.S. Forest Service properties and about 1,300 permits are available in 14 Youth Only categories.

Best Bargain Around

Edmiston has been associated with TPWD’s wildlife information/public hunting programs since 1999 and has spent the last decade as the department’s public hunting coordinator. He believes Texas’ drawn hunt option may be the best bargain in the country for hunters looking for a high quality hunt at a price that won’t break the bank.
“I don’t think there is a more affordable option for someone to hunt a pretty exclusive area,” he said. “In most cases, not only do wildlife management areas and state parks represent some of the most scenic and pristine natural habitats across the state, the deer, exotic, hog, and turkey hunting that takes place on those areas are usually the only time those areas are hunted all. Not only are these areas beautiful, but they are also exclusive – all for $80-$130 a trip.”
The program is well received and gaining popularity with the hunting public.
Edmiston says department processed 292,405 applications for about 10,000 permits that were available last season. That’s an all-time high number of applicants dating back to 1954, when 50 hunters were chosen to hunt white-tailed deer on the Kerr WMA in the Hill Country.
The record year generated about $1.94 million in revenue for TPWD. That money, along with funds generated by the sale of Annual Public Hunting Permits and chances to Big Time Texas Hunts, is earmarked for use in wildlife research and support of public hunting in Texas.

Hunts Galore

There are hunt categories for all sorts of big game like white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, alligator, exotics, javelina and bighorn sheep. Three of these hunts — bighorn sheep, gemsbok and scimitar-horned oryx — are package deals that are guided on well-managed TPWD wildlife management  areas.
Desert bighorn sheep permits are highly prized, sometimes fetching upwards of $100,000 in auction settings.. The number of permits awarded each year is determined during November surveys. This year’s five-day hunt will be scheduled between January and June of 2025.
There also are multiple categories for small game including turkey, doves, quail, waterfowl, pheasant and squirrel, as well as feral hogs, furbearers and predators like bobcats and coyotes.
As always, the hunts are broken down by category and area.
* Special Permit Hunts: Hunts are divided into five sub-categories — General, Archery Only, Private Lands and Guided.
Most Special Permits hunts require $3 fee per adult, per application; Application fees for Private Lands and Guided Packages are $10.
The hunt fees for some Special Permit hunts range $80-$130, depending on the species and duration of the hunt. Others have no fee. Youth applicants for Special Permit hunts must be 8-16 years old.
* E-Postcard Selection Hunts: Hunts are divided in four categories — General, Archery, Youth Only and Youth/Adult. Most of the hunts are hosted on state parks and state WMAs. There are no application or hunt fees, but adult hunters must have a current Annual Public Hunting Permit before they can apply.
APHP’s valid for the upcoming season go on sale August 15, along with new hunting licenses. The permits cost $48 and allow hunting access on about 1 million acres of public land statewide.
* US Forest Service Antlerless Permits: There are two sub-categories, Adult and Youth. These hunts take place on select WMAs within the Davy Crockett, Sabine and Angelina national forests and the Caddo National Grasslands.
There are no application or hunt fees, but adults must have a current APHP to apply.
* National Wildlife Refuge Hunts: The are five sub-categories — General, Archery, Upland, Youth Only and Muzzleloader. All of the hunts occur on national wildlife refuges. Application fee is $3; adults hunt fees range $80-$130, while youth hunts are free.

Drawn Hunt Bullet Points

* Check Those Deadlines: TPWD’s Drawn Hunt web page is bristling with useful information. One of the most important things to need to keep in mind are hunt application deadlines.
You need to apply ahead of the deadline to be in included in the drawing for the hunts of your choice. Deadlines for hunts fall on the 1st and 15th each month. The first deadline is August 1.

* Age Requirements: Youth applicants for Special Permit hunts must be 8-16 years old. Supervising adults must be at least 18. Youth applicants for Youth and Youth/Adult hunts must be under 17.

* Stand By Permits/Secondary Draws: Just because you are unsuccessful in the initial draw doesn’t necessarily mean all is lost. Occasionally, selected hunters don’t respond to the notice or pay the necessary permit fees. Those slots are sometimes filled by secondary drawings or by “stand by” hunters.
Stand by hunters are advised to contact the hunt area a week before the hunt date to find out if any permits are available. If so, prospective hunters are invited to hunt area to apply. Winners of any stand by permits are decided by an on-site draw. There is no fee to apply for stand by hunts, but winners must pay the special permit fee by credit card before they can hunt.

Hunting as a Group: In most cases, hunters can apply as a group of up to four people. However, some hunts restrict the number of names that can be on an application due to the number of hunt positions available. Group application limits are listed in the hunt details.

Loyalty Points: Loyalty Points are rewards that increase your chances of getting drawn. Hunters receive one point each time they apply in a category.

Application Limits: There is no limit on the number different hunts an adult hunter can apply for. However, you cannot apply more than once for the same hunt in any category. Youth hunters are limited to a total of three applications.
Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com .