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Feb 12th, 2024
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 TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
#4446563
08/04/13 06:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119
Mad Max
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119 |
I'm thinking of applying for some of the TX Public Hunting draw hunts this season, and am just wondering what experience people on this board have had with them.
Specifically, suppose I'm drawn for a deer or hog hunt where I'm assigned a compartment or a blind. Can I access the site before the hunting dates in order to bait (if allowed)? If the site is leased by the state from a private rancher or other landowner, am I provided with his contact information to coordinate such things, or do you just go in "blind" on the first day?
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Mad Max]
#4446726
08/04/13 07:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 240
El_Numero_Uno
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 240 |
Unless you have been on the area before, you basically just go in "blind" the first afternoon.
That has been my experience.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: El_Numero_Uno]
#4446732
08/04/13 07:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
maximum
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919 |
you won't know where you'll be
hunting until assigned a compartment
the first hunt day after the orientation
meeting.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: maximum]
#4446752
08/04/13 07:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119
Mad Max
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119 |
Thanks for the replies.
Most of the listed hunts say "baiting allowed," I thought that meant that pre-hunt baiting (or scouting for "compartment" hunts) would be permitted as well. It's kind of pointless to bait a site the day of your hunt if it has never been baited before.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Mad Max]
#4446980
08/04/13 09:18 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,615
Sneaky
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,615 |
Mostly pointless, but not altogether. I have hunted places where deer will find corn a few minutes after you put it out. And it's still a good way to stop them for a shot.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Sneaky]
#4447199
08/04/13 10:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Palehorse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271 |
On some of the "assigned blind" hunts, they will bait the area of the blind for a week or two before the hunt. They usually work pretty hard to make sure the success rates are good.
You won't know the compartment or blind you are hunting prior to the hunt. The folks on this forum will help you with pre-hunt intel though. A lot of good folks here. If you get drawn, just ask.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Mad Max]
#4447428
08/04/13 11:47 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
sqiggy
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326 |
Thanks for the replies.
Most of the listed hunts say "baiting allowed," I thought that meant that pre-hunt baiting (or scouting for "compartment" hunts) would be permitted as well. It's kind of pointless to bait a site the day of your hunt if it has never been baited before. I've been on a number of these hunts. You'd be surprised how fast deer can find the corn.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Palehorse]
#4447759
08/05/13 01:37 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,011
NDN98
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,011 |
On some of the "assigned blind" hunts, they will bait the area of the blind for a week or two before the hunt. They usually work pretty hard to make sure the success rates are good.
You won't know the compartment or blind you are hunting prior to the hunt. The folks on this forum will help you with pre-hunt intel though. A lot of good folks here. If you get drawn, just ask. That was my experience as well. I got drawn for a management hunt about 3 years ago and they had baited the area the two weeks prior. Had a buck come in that would have been the biggest whitetail I had ever shot, but unfortunately it was a management hunt (does and spikes) and I just had to watch him and a couple other bucks eat all the corn.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Palehorse]
#4447867
08/05/13 02:08 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119
Mad Max
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119 |
You won't know the compartment or blind you are hunting prior to the hunt. The folks on this forum will help you with pre-hunt intel though. A lot of good folks here. If you get drawn, just ask. Thanks, I'll do that. I applied for a couple of whitetail hunts (either sex, antlerless), as well as a hog and a turkey hunt. I'm guessing that between the lot (based on draw odds for those areas) I'll get something. I'm guessing that the amount of effort the landowners put into pre-season baiting varies drastically from site to site. Has that been your experience? I also applied for a pronghorn hunt, with the 1/1000 expectation that I'll actually be selected! Then again, I never drew for them when I hunted New Mexico either.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Mad Max]
#4448211
08/05/13 04:31 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 349
Jordan A
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 349 |
So you posted this today right? Wasn't the deadline the 1st of August? Or is it the end of August?
“If you turn the imagination loose like a hunting dog, it will often return with the bird in its mouth.”
-William Maxwell
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Jordan A]
#4448254
08/05/13 05:24 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 43
HER-MAN
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 43 |
The gator hunt was due the 1st. The archery hunts and private lands due the 8th of August.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: HER-MAN]
#4448671
08/05/13 02:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 603
BurrOak
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 603 |
I've been on a couple hunts where baiting was allowed. One was a hog hunt at Lake Somerville, and the other was a doe/spike hunt as Mason Mountain. On both hunts, the animals hit the corn less than an hr after I threw it out.
Last edited by MikeHoncho; 08/05/13 02:31 PM.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Jordan A]
#4448675
08/05/13 02:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119
Mad Max
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 119 |
So you posted this today right? Wasn't the deadline the 1st of August? Or is it the end of August? Depends on the hunt. Some have Aug 8 deadlines, the ones that I applied for had Sept. 10 deadlines (or something like that).
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Jordan A]
#4448679
08/05/13 02:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
sqiggy
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326 |
So you posted this today right? Wasn't the deadline the 1st of August? Or is it the end of August? Pretty sure the OP is referring to the gun hunts, which the deadline for those are Sept 11.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: sqiggy]
#4492267
08/19/13 04:51 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837
Chadillac
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837 |
I have had luck every season for the past 4 years. 2 years ago my wife and I filled up the freezer and my wife walked away with a very nice 10 point.
I get excited every year b/c these hunts are fun, you meet great people and you are getting to hunt somewhere that has new scenery. Even my worse hunt was still a good day.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Chadillac]
#4492285
08/19/13 04:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837
Chadillac
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837 |
Also, I am starting to see a trend at the Either Sex Deer hunts. The places I have been to, so far, there is a bunch of deer and a lot of people are shooting really young deer, yearlings.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Chadillac]
#4496829
08/21/13 12:40 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
finally got through and i am still holding out for gun deer at kerr and gun mule deer at matador, seems like all others have beaten me.
Last edited by jshouse; 08/21/13 12:48 AM.
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: jshouse]
#4498214
08/21/13 01:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
i was DQ'd from the xbow deer drawing because i forgot to put my dads age on the app. so make sure you doublecheck all your apps, i had 2 other ones with his info on them in the envelope that had his age one it....
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: jshouse]
#4498538
08/21/13 03:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837
Chadillac
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837 |
i was DQ'd from the xbow deer drawing because i forgot to put my dads age on the app. so make sure you doublecheck all your apps, i had 2 other ones with his info on them in the envelope that had his age one it.... That is unfortunate. Sorry to hear that. I would be grinding teeth.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: jshouse]
#4498564
08/21/13 03:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
TxAg
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811 |
I have been applying for 5 years and have drawn something every year but 1. All the hunts have been a blast. You get to hunt new ground and enjoy other parts of TX. I put in for just about every category each year.
Three years ago I hit it big and was drawn for the Scimitar Oryx hunt. Awesome experience.
I much prefer the hunts by compartment. Hunting by Assigned Blind can be rough if you get stuck with a poor spot. Also, "blind" is a relative term. Could be just a brush pile.
As to the OP's questions, no, you can not scout or bait the area before hand. You go in cold the first afternoon, but that is part of the fun and the challenge.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: TxAg]
#4498724
08/21/13 04:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837
Chadillac
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 837 |
I have been applying for 5 years and have drawn something every year but 1. All the hunts have been a blast. You get to hunt new ground and enjoy other parts of TX. I put in for just about every category each year.
Three years ago I hit it big and was drawn for the Scimitar Oryx hunt. Awesome experience.
I much prefer the hunts by compartment. Hunting by Assigned Blind can be rough if you get stuck with a poor spot. Also, "blind" is a relative term. Could be just a brush pile.
As to the OP's questions, no, you can not scout or bait the area before hand. You go in cold the first afternoon, but that is part of the fun and the challenge. Same thing here. 5 years and got picked everyone except last year. Showed for the stand by at Steven F Austin SP and there were 15 people for 5 positions. I lucked out and was the first name drawn. It was a great hunt but they all have been.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Chadillac]
#4558809
09/11/13 04:51 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 54
ATX_Hunter
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 54 |
This is my first year to put in for the public drawn hunts. Could the first time be the charm? I hope so. Guadalupe SP would be awesome to hunt. I see whitetail everytime I camp there.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: ATX_Hunter]
#4558883
09/11/13 05:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74
waterlandkennels
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74 |
I have put in for 5 years now and have been drawn for nothing. My son did get drawn for a youth alligator hunt this year though. How much $ I put in so far I could have paid for a hunt.
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: ATX_Hunter]
#4559710
09/11/13 09:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 349
Jordan A
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 349 |
This is my first year to put in for the public drawn hunts. Could the first time be the charm? I hope so. Guadalupe SP would be awesome to hunt. I see whitetail everytime I camp there. First time around this year, got drawn for a gator hunt. First time a charm it is I believe. Or just luck. Otherwise it is a donation to TPWD!
“If you turn the imagination loose like a hunting dog, it will often return with the bird in its mouth.”
-William Maxwell
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Re: TX Public Hunting Draw Hunts
[Re: Jordan A]
#4561039
09/12/13 12:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 57
TXSteel
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 57 |
Sent in a few lottery draws for myself and youth hunts for my son. First time doing this as I just moved to Texas a couple months ago. TWPD deposited my check yesterday so I'm just waiting now for the draw results.
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