Posted 1:07 am Thursday, July 30, 2009
TPWD's Public Draw Hunt Program Open For Business
Hunting in Texas can be expensive. However, for about 5,000 lucky hunters it can be a bargain.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is taking applications for public hunting opportunities around the state for everything from alligators to quality white-tailed deer. The cost can be as little as a $3 application fee for everyone applying, plus an $80 hunt fee for those selected.
WORTH THE PRICE: While not every public hunt is going to produce a trophy, hunters have a chance to take bucks like this 150-class deer taken on the Gene Howe WMA last season.
Most of the hunts are on state wildlife management areas. Some are on state parks and a few on private Texas ranches.
The number of positions is down this year compared to last go-around when more than 5,700 positions were offered.
"A lot of what we are seeing is what the drought is doing," said Kelly Edmiston, TPWD's public hunting program specialist. "We are always trying to engage our hunters to help manage our properties. We had a real successful harvest last year, but the drought just sort of continued and when (biologists) came with recommendations, they came with conservative numbers."
Edmiston said most of the cutbacks have been in the Hill Country and South Texas, the areas hardest hit by two years of dry weather.
With about 43,000 applications each year for a limited number of positions, being drawn for a hunt requires some strategy.
"About 70 percent (of the applications) are for our deer category," Edmiston said. "We still get a lot of applications for our exotic, feral hog and turkey hunts."
Edmiston said hunters select what hunt they want to apply for based on personal criteria.
"It depends on if they want something for the freezer, want to go somewhere new or try to get a mature animal," he explained.
By looking at the application booklet, hunters can determine their best chance to be drawn. Most likely that isn't the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, the state's premier spot for trophy bucks. Last year more than 2,800 hunters applied for 62 spots for the area's gun hunt and almost 600 applied for 50 archery positions.
In comparison only 428 hunters applied for 40 gun hunt positions and 137 applicants for 61 archery spots at the Gus Engeling WMA in Anderson County.
While the Chap is considered the best spot to get a trophy buck, the Matador and Gene Howe areas both had entries in last year's Texas Big Game Awards program.
Most of the deer hunts are on state wildlife management areas. Hunts will also be held at 41 state parks where deer numbers have become troublesome and at several private ranches in the Hill Country and North Texas that have sold hunts to the state. Those hunts are paid for with revenue from the public hunting program.
The focus of the public hunting program may be white-tailed deer, but it also provides an opportunity for hunters to seek some species they may not otherwise pursue. Alligator hunts along the Texas coast are popular with hunters, as are mule deer hunts, pronghorns and the exotics.
The highlight, however, is an opportunity to hunt a desert bighorn sheep. Last year two hunters were drawn to hunt sheep in the Trans Pecos region of the state. It hasn't been determined, but Edmiston is hoping for at least one permit again this season.
Desert bighorn sheep are a rare animal. On the open market, hunts can sell for $100,000 or more. The public hunt goes for a $10 application fee.
Last year 2,092 applied for the two positions. Edmiston said if the program does not get a permit this year, applicants will be rolled over into next year's drawing.
Another popular hunt is on the department's Mason Mountain WMA where hunters have a chance for scimitar-horned oryx and gemsbok. The problem is about 2,600 hunters applied for six scimitar permits and another 2,000 applied for the two gemsbok.
Hunts are divided into archery and gun categories. There are youth hunts, which don't require an application fee. The application fee for all others is from $3 to $10 depending on the type of hunt. Hunt fees can range from $80 for regular hunts to $130 for extended hunt packages.
The application deadline for alligator hunts is Wednesday. Applications for a pronghorn antelope hunt on private lands or the Rita Blanca National Grasslands, along with statewide bow hunts is Aug. 12. Applications for the general season gun deer hunts must be received by Sept. 3 and the deadline for the bighorn sheep hunt is Nov. 4.
Information and applications for Special Permit hunts are available on the Public Hunting Web site at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/. Booklets are also available at TPWD Law Enforcement offices or by calling (800) 792-1112.
