Drawn hunt lesson learned

[jshouse]

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

that isn't the point

[Killer]

Texas public land hunts are headed downhill and they were already at the bottom of the heap! Its lack of funding, lack of funding and lack of funding! Not a big priority either it seems since public land is such a small percentage of the hunting done in Texas. Private land rules Texas. Sorry for the headache.

[Wampuscat]

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...

I fully understood that I may have been one of those not chosen for a standby, or there may have not even been a drawing if all of the hunters were to show up. My displeasure arose from their lack of updates on the availability of standby spots. Just like the outcome when sitting in a blind, tree stand, stalk hunting or fishing... getting a standby spot was never a certainty. I'm hoping to be able to get back on an annual lease again for the 2017 season. Hopefully one that won't clearcut all of the trees around me 2 weeks before the season opener.

[lovemylegacy]

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?

Austin is weird, run by liberals. You think they care about hunters?

[big_smith]

I went on 2 draws this past week. One was a youth hunt and the other was doe only. The weather was pretty awful for the youth hunt and the first day of the other. On BOTH hunts multiple drawn hunters did not show up and on both there were stand by hunters that were turned away. I asked why and was told that the harvest quota would be met with the numbers that were there. On the youth hunt we were on 5k acres and there were 6 deer killed. The other also 5k acres and there were 10 does killed. Seems like it would not have hurt to have another hunter or two but I don't have a degree from A&M or anything.

[Etxnoodler]

Did you call the week ahead of time and leave a message? If so they should have called you back. If you didn't leave a message that's on you. I wouldn't rely on the website for information. You should call the area directly. If it's a wma hunt anybody that works on that area should be able to give correct information. If it's a state park hunt talk to the person that runs the hunts directly or you will prolly get the wrong information.

[Low Fence]

I spent my last dollar with Texas public land "system" last year, it's a joke. Not far from dropping liscence as well and just hunting out of state.

[.270]

I spent my last dollar with Texas public land "system" last year, it's a joke. Not far from dropping liscence as well and just hunting out of state.

The more I listen to the podcasts of Steve Rinella and Randy Newberg public land hunters and advocates, the more I am leaning this way too.

[.270]

Texas public land hunts are headed downhill and they were already at the bottom of the heap! Its lack of funding, lack of funding and lack of funding! Not a big priority either it seems since public land is such a small percentage of the hunting done in Texas. Private land rules Texas. Sorry for the headache.

I learned this week, Texas is in this predicament because the State offloaded millions of acres of public land many many years ago to generate income. Texas is an example some Western States use on why the Govt should not give lands back to the States to manage. Utah sold a bunch of it's reclaimed land from the Govt to generate cash flow.

[Timemachine]

hYep...I was there too. I was in the Maroon Tundra. I was very disappointed with how it turned out.

[Landrover]

wow.........interesting thread. Not surprised the thread headed south. Are you going to send this link to the Austin folks (or even the managers of that property) and professionally request a response? Or just letting us know how you feel about the situation.