Stanby Hunts for Drawn Vacancies

Has anybody had any luck showing up hoping for standby slots on drawn hunts? I am trying to get out on as many hunts as possible this year, but I don't want to waste too much time driving a couple hours every few weekends for slim to no chance. I drew Pedernales falls annex GDE last year, and the first day I was the only one to show out of three. #2 showed up on day two, and the third hunter never came. I would think that isn't particularly common.

It just depends on the place. Places where you are more likely to get a big buck, there wont be any stand bys hardly. Places that are more of a meat hunt, there will be more stand bys.

I've always been lucky/fortunate to hunt standby. My system has been to pick a week that has hunts in close proximity with one starting on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and go ahead and take the week off. If not picked for one then go to the next one. So far I've always been picked on the first or second option. Worst case, its a mini vacation and get to see some great country. I skipped standbys last year because I had my own place so not sure how the new system and second chance drawings will impact standbys. Call the park office a week or two before the hunt and ask about standbys before making a trip

Nice, Thanks for sharing, pretty cool system. I can't afford a lease and I have successfully eradicated the hogs off of my private property, and I'm not quite daring enough to resort to eating coyote, so public hunts have to keep the freezer full!

I don't know if I have ever been on a hunt were all drawn showed. The youth spring turkey hunt on Matador had 4 drawn. We were the only ones to show. Was cool having the entire place to ourselves.

Having the Pedernales falls annex to myself for 1 day and night was pretty cool, too, neat little cabin, and only a radio to contact the ranger. Wish I would have had a more successful hunt, though, walked about 20 miles in 3 days and ended up with 1 pig. I am surprised people skip out when they are so lucky to be drawn!

Funny, my buddy and I were just talking about that Annex hunt today. We've put in for it a few times with no luck.

What you can do, what I always do, is call the area a couple days before the hunt. They will tell you if there will be any stand-by slots or not. Could save you a trip. But, the way the new system is set up, when a person is drawn, they have to send in the payment for the permit by a set date. If that is not met, then they do a second drawing and the same thing happens. It could be, where a lot of places now will not have any stand-by slots left after that second drawing.
Also, keep in mind, once drawn and you send your payment in on time and you don't show up, they aren't going to turn it over to a stand-by.

I thought all spots were filled since those spots not accepted/paid within the timeframe allowed are redrawn?
I'm not positive on this, just my understanding.

TPWD will do a second drawing if all the spots on the first draw are not filled. Those spots that are not filled on the second drawing, will or should go up for stand-by spots. It will be up to the area manager if there will be any stand-bys available. Some places will do stand by, where others won't. That's why you should call ahead and find out for sure, for the place you're wanting to go.
For example, the last hunt I went on was Devils River. Think there was like 20 permits for this hunt. Only 5 of us showed up. I asked if they were going to take stand-bys if any showed up. They said no, because they didn't have any way to run a credit card and could not accept cash.
On another hunt I drew, I couldn't get there till the next day. I called to let them know I was indeed coming, but it would be a day later. I didn't want them to give my spot to a stand-by cause I wasn't there at the start. That's when I was told, if a drawn hunter has paid for the permit and doesn't show up, the department cannot give that spot to a stand-by.
Make sense??

Good info, thanks!

On the hunt I went on, less than half who had signed up showed. It was pretty much open for whomever wanted to hunt. Now it was crap conditions and a major pain to get to, but a good hunt none the less. I will be going back this year even if I am not drawn.

Good info their... Sign of a good economy....