It's that time of year. TPWD has opened up for applying for their annual hunts. Tell us where you're applying to, and if you have any advice on locations you have hunted in the past. I will be applying for myself and my son. If you have kids start when they turn eight so they can start accumulating points.

In the past I have been to:

Justin Hurst youth hog hunt- I would do it again. Saw a lot of pigs. Mosquitoes like nothing I have ever experienced on one of the days. You are put in a blind and unable to go anywhere but that blind.

Chaparral management hunt- super fun place to hunt. You were given a unit that you can move around on which is nice. Opportunity to see some big deer. Sadly, I only saw bucks that were too big. But multiple people were able to successfully get a management buck and one guy even got a warthog.

Choke Canyon North Shore youth spike/antlerless. You meet up and base out of Daughtry WMA. We saw a young spike an hour into hunting we passed on and then never had another opportunity, but it was a great experience and great for my son as we got to "work" a little looking for sign and picking our spots.

Hill Country SNA for anterless/spike hunt. Again, set blind spots you must use. Was surprised how few deer were seen being a hill country park. I don't think I would recommend unless convenient for you.


This year Applying for:
Exotic (7 points) Devils River SNA Del Norte
Bighorn (3 points) Location TBD
Gun Deer Either (15 points) Chaparral
Mule Deer (6 points) Black Gap
Private Deer (7) Kerr
Turkey (3)- TBD
Gun Deer Management (3)- TBD

My Son
Youth Javelina (3)- Chap
Youth Exotic (4)- Devils River SNA
Youth GDE (4)- Guadalupe SP
Youth Antlerless/Spike (1) Daughtrey
Youth Gun Deer Management (3)- Daughtrey
Youth Feral Hog (0)- Justin Hurst
Youth Turkey (3)- Kerr

I'm up around 30 years applying for the drawn hunts. Don't have many preference points in any category anymore, having been drawn for most, especially during the past 6-7 years since they began cubing points.

That being said I applied for several last night and will apply for several more in the coming weeks.

I always throw my name in the hat for the big trophy hunts. Likely my only shot at taking a desert big horn. To do it in Tx would be incredible

If you start getting north of 10 preference points, start being judicious of where you apply in any given category. You're going to get drawn eventually and your odds get better each year. And you don't want to waste all of those accumulated points at a place kicking yourself because the animals just aren't there and you know that other options would have been better.

Been there, done that!

Can't remember, so you lose your points even if you get drawn but turn down the hunt?

I believe so. A few years ago I was drawn for Turkey and had to say no bc something major came up. My points are only at 3 right now.

Yes, that's correct.

What sucks is to get drawn for two hunts that are scheduled on the same days.

hope so, I am sitting at 11-15 years depending on the hunt....my niece has been doing this for 4-5 years and shes been drawn 2 times.

For those of you with youth hunters - they've finally opened up the Devils River Dan A Hughes SNA. Only hunt is the Youth deer. You can shoot one ORIX and unlimited other exotics. They opened it up for one year for hunting - then closed it back down while they built infrastructure. I'd recommend this hunt.

Already applied !

Anyone hit on gator draw?

Not I, just got my 4th point… wonder what average number of preference points is to draw the gator hunt

Nope on gator today. Six points here.

I have been applying for the Butler Unit hunt for Trinity River NWR for several years as a way of stacking points, because it is one of the hardest hunts to draw in the category. They give out two permits for ~230 applicants. It appears to be only about 300 acres of land.

Well.... I won the hunt this year. Any advice or experience with the property? Its the November Gun hunt

Wife and I drew antlerless/spike at Brazos bend. Love camping there with the kiddos so looking forward to it

Son and I got drawn for Gus Englan WMA

Going to N eches NWR with a bow and a rifle again this year, drew both. Did the same 2 years ago with a buddy, he'll be back too. We hauled a 10 and an 8 out of there. Him with a bow me with a rifle.

Drew Archery Mule deer with 14pts

What the hell hahaha! I'm 0-30 this year

My son drew Richland Creek Trinity/South either sex. Really looking forward to that one as I've hunted there several times and it is one of my favorite places to hunt. Found some really good spots last time and had a huge nontypical buck 90 yards away but never came in bow range.

I drew javelina at Big Bend Ranch State Park but unfortunately cant make the schedule work. Really bummed about that. My last 2 times drawn for a hunt I havent been able to go(LANWR last year).

My son and I both missed on everything so far. We have drawn at least one hunt between us the last 3 years. Turkey hopefully for him hits.

Your first sentence was my exact response when I received the second email yesterday

Well AngryOcotillo.....it's your lucky day. Think this is my first or second time ever commenting/posting....long time lurker though. Just so happens I own property VERY close to Butler Unit. That's enough info on here. No clue how to get in touch but let me know and will be glad to help out any way I can.

Good bull 2%er!!

I got lucky yesterday with a permit for Gun - Antlerless/Spike on Gus Engeling WMA in mid-November

Never been there before, so if anyone has any tips I'm all ears. Looks like I'll be camping and plan to be mobile by getting up in some trees.

I'm only a couple hours away so might look into some scouting if that's allowed

Gus is a cool place and has some big bucks that's why a lot of people like it. But it can be a pretty difficult hunt. Buddy has done a lot of youth hunts out there and deer are hard to come by.

For Gus, I called and spoke to one of the rangers there today and he said it's a good idea to come early and scout the area. So I'm planning to make the trip out this weekend.

I'm planning on hunting out of trees and he also thought that was the way to go instead of using their blinds.

Does anyone have any suggestions for areas to scout out for mid-Nov? I'd love to talk to anyone that has hunted it before

Drawn for Gun Deer at Powderhorn WMA in December. 6 points

This is the deer hunt (2 - only one buck) not the exotic hunt but you are allowed 2 Sambar and 2 Axis along with two Whitetails. The numbers are way down since the state wants to get rid of the exotics, not manage them. I emailed the park staff to ask about the exotic populations.

This the reply from Dan Walker

"There is a decent chance at getting a sambar. We have knocked them back considerably, however their numbers were huge when we first started hunting. Last year we harvested 45 sambar over 5 hunts. We do not have many axis and harvested 4 last year. Their numbers started going down well before the freeze, not sure what is happening with them. We have never harvested many of them."

• Dan

Whoa! Awesome, thanks for posting. You can reach me at username@gmail.com . I can give you my phone number from there if that's easier.

Jealous!! Maybe one day .

Nice! Please do a write up when you finish it.

Forget the write up! Vlog it !

You lucky sob.

I put in for 10, did not get squat….just want a meat hunt. I guess I might try my hand at Meredith