Drawn hunt lesson learned

[Wampuscat]

I wasn't drawn for any hunts this year, so after getting skunked for a second year at a Llano weekend bow lease, I decided to give Brazos Bend State Park a try for a standby hunt. I took vacation and checked the website to verify that standbys were still available and called but didn't get an answer. I went in to work at 5:00 am for a few hours before heading out to the park to wait and see if I'd get picked.

I was prepared for "sorry you're not one of the guys picked". I wasn't prepared for "sorry we've cancelled all of the standbys due to the rain and Austin isn't very good about updating the website".

Now I know that the TPWD employees in Austin are probably overworked and simply weren't able to get around to updating their website. After all it would've been a whole sentence on the keyboard to do the update. Heck they're in Austin, so maybe even they were too stoned. Either way it's no fun losing a days pay and the possibility of a hunt, because some pencil pusher who probably doesn't even hunt didn't do his or her job. I'm just glad it was only a 30 mile drive there. What if I'd driven from Liverpool all the way to Garner or the panhandle?

[Buckwheat]

SMDH!!!

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[N.DaWoods]

Id have to agree. never take a day off unless you have a spot 100%. If you get lucky and get a spot standby it can considered a bonus but always have a backup plan, like other public land spot or 18 holes of golf. Better luck next time.

[MasonCo.]

Man that sucks to hear, but stand by's aren't always a guarantee.

[Hydestik]

Someone else had a recent thread about standby hunts and it seems that even if your drawn the odds are terrible of getting anything. I sure don't want to waste a day of vacation and drive to the boonies to watch the wind blow. If I'm off that's a different story.

[SmTx]

They don't even have to update websites.

I'm not a big twitter user but something like that could've easily been tweeted and posted on their other social media accounts.

[Bowhuntamistad]

They don't even have to offer standbys....be thankful there is even that.

[.270]

They don't even have to update websites.

I'm not a big twitter user but something like that could've easily been tweeted and posted on their other social media accounts.

Some will give stand by status #'s on the individual parks Facebook page sometimes. Or you can call and hope you talk to someone who knows what they are talking about. I saw an interesting exchange at the _____ Unit one year. One guy was all huffin about he talked to "____" and they said there would be stand by availabilty. Hunt coordinator about had enough and said "I don't know that person is that told you but I am running the hunts here and there are no stand by's. If you don't have a permit you need to leave"

[Quackerbox]

I'll see your rant and raise ya one from by 76 year old pops last year.

Hes been wanting to hunt Garner again and since we didn't get drawn he called about standbys. Lady tells him they wont have any for first hunt. He stays home.

Second hunt he calls and guy says they will have 3-4. Pops and his cousin load up and drive the day of the hunt from Hempstead to Garner to find like 8 standby guys. Guy tells dad....should have been here last week, we had a couple we didn't fill. They don't get drawn standby and go to a buddies place in Kerrville.

Third hunt (dad is retired) he drives down again and doesn't get drawn but two guys from hunt 2 and have taken animals get drawn standby again.

Fast forward a month or so and an article comes out in Tx fish and game talking about how the Garner hunts haven't been taking enough deer. Park hired contracted felllas to come in and take deer "at no cost'. I sent a letter to Austin, Tx fish and game and Garner SP and never heard a lick

[Hydestik]

They don't even have to offer standbys....be thankful there is even that.

They don't offer anything out of the kindness of their hearts... it's a money grab for the state.

[Wampuscat]

Guess I need to work some more OT so I can afford to book a high fence trophy hunt in a few years and stop relying on the generosity of the government for putting meat in my freezer.

[DJM]

I learned a long time ago.If you want info about a hunt area,stand by ect,call the hunt area supervisor/coordinator.They make all the decisions about the hunts(quotas,means,any restrictions,stand by hunts).I've found that they're more than willing to talk to you.

DJ

[Wampuscat]

Thanks, I'll be sure and call them the day before and morning of a hunt next year, before taking a day or 3 off. Luckily I could show up today at work.

[BALLS-OUT]

I feel your pain, but don't really understand your gripe....It's called standby for a reason.
Would anything have changed had you had the chance, but not been drawn...besides the 1.5 hours you lost driving? Not trying to start an argument, but they cannot control the rain and may have made that decision that morning...

[.270]

I learned a long time ago.If you want info about a hunt area,stand by ect,call the hunt area supervisor/coordinator.They make all the decisions about the hunts(quotas,means,any restrictions,stand by hunts).I've found that they're more than willing to talk to you.

DJ

Very true! Of few I have done, Mason Mountain was the most accommodating of stand by's.