Post Drawn Hunt Season Convo

[Yakinthebox]

Alright, now that Drawn Hunt's are (mostly) over, what's everyone's thoughts on this season?
What changes would yall make if any? I know this is beating a dead horse but I'd like to use this post for everyone to share ideas and just share how their season went specifically in the Drawn Hunt's System.

I'll let others chime in before I share my thoughts and opinions.

[Yak blue]

About fifth or sixth year in a row I hadn’t drawn. Kid didn’t draw either, but That’s okay.
im getting enough points built up, I wish they would just have a point purchase option. Take my dang $3.00 but don’t make me chance wasting 16+ years of points on a hunt in a category that I can’t make or doesn’t line up or whatnot. To the point I’m pretty particular on which hunts I apply for, don’t want to waste them if I can’t make anything work or if there isn’t a place I want to risk/waste them on that year.

[Walker]

Out of state hunters should have to buy a license before they apply for hunts.

[SCHC]

Out of state hunters should have to buy a license before they apply for hunts.

Absolutely, treat the OOS’er like they treat us !

[Lslite]

The point system is a joke. I have 28 points for the Chaparral buck hunt and am about ready to give up and just spend my money on boat gas and beer.

[GenrlSamBuseton]

Out of state hunters should have to buy a license before they apply for hunts.

No reason not to. Increase revenue while lessening an already flooded pool.

[Patton]

A 'point only' option. On years where you have other hunts planned or don't have time, it would be nice to apply for a 'point only' option instead of having to put your name in the hat. And agreed for NR having to purchase a license; at a minimum it would make some NR think twice about applying instead of paying $3/hunt for a trip they may not take.

[Yakinthebox]

So, I've actually had a really great past couple years when it comes to actually pulling permits. Last year, between my kids and I, we pulled 8 permits.

This year, we pulled 9! 1 of those was as a standby. I will say that not all of those are highly sought after hunt's. And we did not have success on all of them.

Out of the 9 permits we pulled, we harvested game on 4 of them. 3 deer, 1 hog and 5 dove.

Changes I would like to see;

1. Implement a requirement for NR to purchase license before even being allowed to enter/view the Drawn Hunt's website.

2. Add some Waterfowl hunt's into the general category so we could build points on those. Currently waterfowl is only in E-Postcard.

3. Allow baiting on NWR Hunt's. There's no legitimate reason to not allow it. This is Texas after all.

4. Make the website more interactive, for example being able to filter hunt's by location, category etc and then being able to put specific dates in. This would be awesome because I work shift work but admittedly is just nitpicking. Lol

5. I too would like a points only option. Even if it cost a buck more, I wouldn't mind.

6. Put a cap on NR's. For example, say there's 10 permits offered on a hunt, make it where no more than 2-3(20%-30%) would go to NR's. Us residents provide the overwhelming majority of the funding for this program so we should reap the most from it.

I'm sure I could think of other things but that's it for now.

Overall, I've been very happy with the program. I really hope this political BS going on currently doesn't screw up OUR PROGRAM. Have made a lot of really great memories with my family and friends through this program!

[Static1968]

With Social media and YOU TUBE it will only get harder to draw any hunts from here on out.
#1--- I would like to see the draw system for adult hunters to adopt the same system as the youth category. 3 applications max. per draw category.

#2 -- NR license to apply.
#3 -- More Transparency on hunt area info, such as in the hunt brochure of each unit. Example: if a unit has been eradicating certain species throughout the year such as hogs and exotics via trapping or Heli hunting.

#4 -- Ttue success rates for the areas that do publish them. The actual numbers of each animal allowed not just lumped together.

these are suggestions that I add on the survey each year when drawn.

[Throwin Darts]

The point system is a joke. I have 28 points for the Chaparral buck hunt and am about ready to give up and just spend my money on boat gas and beer.

My dad has 40 and I have 29. I'm with you on this!

[Yakinthebox]

With Social media and YOU TUBE it will only get harder to draw any hunts from here on out.
#1--- I would like to see the draw system for adult hunters to adopt the same system as the youth category. 3 applications max. per draw category.

#2 -- NR license to apply.
#3 -- More Transparency on hunt area info, such as in the hunt brochure of each unit. Example: if a unit has been eradicating certain species throughout the year such as hogs and exotics via trapping or Heli hunting.

#4 -- Ttue success rates for the areas that do publish them. The actual numbers of each animal allowed not just lumped together.

these are suggestions that I add on the survey each year when drawn.

I don't think they'd ever go to only 3/ category for adults because then they're just turning away free money. For them, it's a money maker, they're not concerned about your draw odds.

[Yakinthebox]

You guys with 16, 29, 40 points are depressing me! Lol

I've only got 8 in ES... 9 next season.

[BigRed323]

3. Allow baiting on NWR Hunt's. There's no legitimate reason to not allow it. This is Texas after all.

I talked to staff at a NWR one day about it and was told that because most of the NWR units were purchased with waterfowl federal funds and one of the stipulations was about feed so I don’t think it can ever be changed if that was the purchase stipulation. But honestly, I’m against it anyway. Takes away from the true hunt experience and difficulty that makes these hunts so much fun. (Just like I’m against e-bikes, but I’ll get flamed for that opinion lol)

I also don’t understand why people want to limit us to 3 choices between categories. I don’t like the idea of being limited to what I can chose as a resident. Maybe it’ll increase your odds a little? But if you’re just an unlucky person, you’re still not gonna draw anyway

Focus should be on non-resident changes. Heck, Utah just stuck it to non-res , so why can’t we start making them buy a license first. We arent saying, you can’t come hunt here, but you gotta pay first to come hunt our state like we do yours.

[Greenheadless]

Ever since the moved to the money grab, enter as much as you want for each hunt category, the draw system is a joke. They tried to implement the point system to offset, but has had zero effect.

They need to go back to one (or limited #) per hunt category.

[Texas Grown]

Listen here Fellers! I'm pay-n dadgum good money to TP&W for draw hunts just so yall can draw on my hard pay-n tax dollars! Don't yall dare give up. That would highly disappint me that my tax dollars (application fees) might go to another cause.