Outdoors

By STEVE KNIGHT
Outdoor Writer

If success in business is a demand for a service, consider Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s public draw hunts a success.

Application booklets for this year’s hunts are in the mail for those who applied for a hunt last year or are available at game warden offices statewide. Application deadlines for alligator hunts are Aug. 5, with the remainder Aug. 14 or later.

Last year almost 45,000 Texans applied for about 5,500 hunting spots around the state. That nine-to-one ratio has been fairly common in recent years, but doesn’t mean the demand is that high for every position available. Some locations, such as the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, which will be open to hunting this fall, (despite a massive fire that scorched it just months ago) and Mason Mountain, attract a disproportionate number of applications.

Others go wanting.

Not to be confused with the Annual Public Lands Hunting Program, the remnant of the old Type II program, the draw hunt program offers controlled hunts on wildlife management areas and state parks throughout Texas. The program offers hunters a shot at mule deer, javelina, exotics, alligators, feral hogs and bighorn sheep.

However, it is the white-tailed deer hunts that attract the largest number of entries. Categories include hunts for bucks, some of which could be trophies, antlerless deer only and youth hunts.

The cost of a hunt isn’t much more than a tank of gasoline. There is a $3 per person application fee and those drawn are required to pay an additional $75 to $125 for a one- to four-day hunt in most cases. And the hunts attract a broad spectrum of hunters.

“I see a little of anybody and everybody,” said Jeff Gunnels, who oversees four wildlife management areas in East Texas including Gus Engeling and Richland Creek. “I have seen a lot who recognize the quality of deer we can grow on these management properties.”

Most hunters consider the Chap in South Texas the best option for a trophy hunt in the system. However, Gunnels said hunters annually see 140- to 150-inch deer on the Engeling and Richland Creek areas, and that a couple of 140-plus gross deer are taken each season.

The biologist said he often sees a different type of hunter on hunts that are limit to spikes and antlerless deer. Those are often first-time hunters or hunters just out to gather some meat for the freezer.

Gunnels said he especially likes the youth hunt concept. Two youth hunters took 135-inch deer on Richland Creek last season, both good but not near the 155-inch best for a youth hunt on the area. The youth best on the Engeling area was a 169-inch deer taken two seasons ago.

“I see more youth on youth hunts who have no other place to hunt. That is the one hunt they are going to get, whether their parents don’t have a lease or can’t take youth to lease,” he explained. Three youth-only weekend hunts are scheduled for Richland Creek this fall. Youth hunters must still be go through the application system, but the hunts are free.

Still, Gunnels said some hunters are reluctant to participate in the program because of a bad experience they had in the past with public hunting under the open concept APL program, or get drawn and come away surprised at the difference.

“We schedule our hunts to provide every hunter the opportunity to have a good chance at a deer. We have more hunts with fewer people. That way there is less chance of deer being spooked and it is safer,” he said.

On the Engeling area individual hunting parties are given compartments that run from 150 to 350 acres. Hunts are limited to 50 hunters across the 11,000 acres. At Richland Creek the hunting parties are parceled about 500 acres and hunts are limited to 40 people on 14,000 acres. When conditions are right, success on the two areas can run about 50 percent on a hunt.

The bighorn sheep hunts have only been offered three times before, 2002, 2006 and last season. Because of the rarity of sheep hunts, on the open market this hunt would sell upward of $60,000. The draw hunts have averaged about 1,900 applicants. The three previous hunters have been successful at taking mature rams.

The application deadline for alligator hunts is Aug. 5. For pronghorn antelope hunts on private land or the Rita Blanca National Grasslands north of Dalhart, the deadline is Aug. 14. Bowhunters also have until Aug. 14 to apply for special drawn public archery hunts. Entries for the general (gun) season deer hunts must be received by Sept. 4. Deadline for the Guided Bighorn Sheep Hunt is Nov. 4.

Information and applications for Special Permit hunts are available on the TPWD’s Public Hunting Web site. For more information about the draw hunt program go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us or call (800) 792-1112.