Stand by hunts?

[Cypress Hunter]

Has anyone ever tried stand by after not getting drawn for any of the hunts?

This was the first year my sons were drawn in any of the youth categories and I’ve never been drawn in 6 years for an adult hunt. We don’t have a lease and I’m looking for more opportunities for them and myself. Any information would be appreciated.

[Deer Tracks]

You'll show up the first day of the scheduled hunt and tell the biologist or director that you are there for a standby position. If there are more people than positions available, they will literally draw names out of a hat.

Getting to hunt on a standby position is not a sure thing. Go to the link below and find the hunts you are considering going for. You'll see the number of stand by positions available last year, number of hunters that showed, and how many got to hunt.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild...atistics/2013/

We showed up at Pedernales on stand by a few years ago. There were 4 positions available and 7 people applying for them. Our names were not drawn.

[grizzman]

I never have tried standby but have been on a lot of hunts where people have gotten to hunt standby. Call the WMA a week ahead of time to check. I have been on several hunts where everyone that showed up got to hunt.

[Slick8]

Call before even thinking about it.

With the new format, they may not have many standby positions. In case you weren't aware, with the new online format they have a second drawing for any spots that weren't paid for after the deadline.

I'm not sure, but it appears that will likely do away with standby positions. In the past, the only spots that were put up for the standby drawing were those not paid for. If you had paid for your hunt, you have the entire hunt duration to show up for. They can't give your paid spot away.

[rmartinjr4]

I thought hunters had to show up for orientation prior to the hunts.

[J-Bob]

Like Slick 8 said, definitely call a few days to a week before and check to see if there will be spots, when to show up, etc. Every wma/park does it differently. I have seen guys who drove for 2 hours but didn't call show up 10 minutes after the deadline and not get their name in the hat.

I would expect a lot of standby spots in the youth hunts this year, but not many in the other hunts because of the 2nd drawing for unpaid spots.

[Cypress Hunter]

Great information. I hadn't thought about the new format reducing stand by positions. My sons were selected in the second chance drawing at the Chaparral. I'll keep an eye on the hunts I'm thinking of trying to get on and call in advance.

[Cypress Hunter]

Great link.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild...atistics/2013/

I had not seen this page before.

[denowt]

I'm not sure, but it appears that will likely do away with standby positions. In the past, the only spots that were put up for the standby drawing were those not paid for. If you had paid for your hunt, you have the entire hunt duration to show up for. They can't give your paid spot away.

Not entirely true for all locations.
Some places have a set number of standby spots available, regardless of the drawn permit payments.
You are partly correct though. Some places only have standby spots available if there drawn spots that are not paid for.

[Cypress Hunter]

Not entirely true for all locations.
Some places have a set number of standby spots available, regardless of the drawn permit payments.
You are partly correct though. Some places only have standby spots available if there drawn spots that are not paid for.

Before setting out on a 2-6 hour drive the best thing to do is call and talk to someone. I'll keep this in mind as hunt dates approach.

[friscopaint]

Been a few yrs back but every standby hunter got to hunt on my Chaparral deer bowhunt.

[denowt]

Been a few yrs back but every standby hunter got to hunt on my Chaparral deer bowhunt.

It used to be that way at Chap on archery hunts.....when there were about a dozen people that showed up for standby.
Then the word got out and more people started showing up, so they stopped letting everyone hunt.
Same thing for youth management hunts there.
There were so many there for standby 2 years ago, they almost restricted standby hunters to spikes only.

[WinslowBoy]

With the new drawing system and "2nd" drawings, not sure how the standby numbers are going to look this year. No history to look back at. It does appear that some locations opted not to have 2nd drawings (Richland Creek, Gus Engeling) because my kids status on the TPWD went right to "Not Selected" after the original drawing. Wouldn't be surprised if these locations have a bunch of standby spots.

Best advice has all ready been mentioned and that is call first. Also be selective in where you might go and the type of hunt. Obviously the either sex hunts are going to attract more people than the antlerless and management hunts. Also, I've noticed that hunts later in the year or around holidays generally were easier to get picked for standby.

Best of luck at the Chap. I will be there for the Mgmt hunt with my son the weekend of Nov 28th.

[30.06]

I went on standby for 4 deer hunts two years ago and got to hunt on 2 of them. At Nannie Stringfellow there were about 30 standby hunters for the archery hunt and they took all of them. Other places only took the number they had unpaid spots for or if a paid hunter called and cancelled prior to the hunt. If you study that TPWD data page it will give you an idea which ones have a better chance. Be sure to call before driving to make sure they have any openings this year.