Big Time Texas Hunts: Anyone here ever win in the drawing?

Raven

Raven

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Central Texas
As the title asks, has anyone on the forum won a hunt with TPWD?

I've played the game for years with no luck. I don't know anyone who has won.

Just wondering about the experience you have had if you won the drawing and got to go on a hunt with them.

Thanks.
 
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Thanks for replying Matt. I'm basically on the same path. They don't even follow up with the folks who "donated" to announce who did win following the drawing. Disappointing and I'm a little skeptical regarding the entire program at this point.
 
My nephew won an East Texas Whitetail permit. After looking into it, he declined to go. Poor odds and low quality deer. Not sure why he even entered that drawing.

I enter about a dozen every year. Every exotic tag, Aoudad tag and one particular whitetail tag. Of course, the big one. Sheep, pronghorn and the two deer.
 
Thanks Wendell. At least you can point to someone who drew a permit hunt. Sounds like probably a good call to pass on that one draw hunt.

I have been entering every year with similar choices as you. Minus the Aoudad. We have a good population of free range animals in our area. Most years we get a crack at a couple old rams. 32''-34'' range.

Best of luck if entering this year! Would love to see someone I know win.
 
Raven said:
Thanks Wendell. At least you can point to someone who drew a permit hunt. Sounds like probably a good call to pass on that one draw hunt.

I have been entering every year with similar choices as you. Minus the Aoudad. We have a good population of free range animals in our area. Most years we get a crack at a couple old rams. 32''-34'' range.

Best of luck if entering this year! Would love to see someone I know win.
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We have Aoudad on our ranch in NW Texas. Yet, I still apply for these other hunts because the terrain is a little bit different and the experience is a bit different.

But, I do love spot and stalk Aoudad hunting, so maybe I'm a bit biased.
 
Over the years I've entered many times and gotten drawn at least 7-9times. My best and first drawn hunt was at the Kerr WMA back in the late 70's killed a 26 1/2" spread eight point, have not come close to that buck on any drawn or leased land hunt since then. Had a good drawn hunt on Perdanales Falls State Park about 7 years ago where my nephew took a saki buck and also WT buck and doe. I had a shot at a nice WT buck on that hunt and bloodied him but never found him. Was drawn for the Hill Country natural area near Bandera about 5 years ago with no luck. Drawn for Llano WMA and got cancelled due to an ice storm that week. Brazos Bend State Park a couple times, went once and passed on several decent bucks and didn't go the other time for some reason. Honey Creek, was drawn once and no luck. Guadalupe once and passed on several decent bucks. Drawn for Elephant Mountain WMA once and killed a nice 8 pt mule deer as did my brother in law. Probably a few more that I can't recall. Been pretty fortunate over the last 50+ years. I probably entered half of those years, 81 years old now and haven't entered in the last five years.
 
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I got drawn on a few hunts,but haven't put in for the hunts in about ten years now:
Garner State Park- Whitetail Doe Hunt-Killed two axis does which was allowed.
Daugherty WMA -Either Sex-Killed a buck,doe and a hog
Chaparral WMA- Managment Buck-Killed two bucks
Daugherty WMA-Management Buck - Killed two bucks
Garner State Park-Exotic Hunt-Finally after about 15yrs of putting in for the hunt,it was a big disappointment.Only one axis doe was killed by all the participants of the three day hunt.I heard that earlier in the year,over 250 axis were killed out of the park to try to reduce the population of axis.
Overall,I think it's worth putting in for the hunts.They generally want the hunters to be successful.
 

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