With the 2015/2016 draw hunts open on the TPWD site thought I would share my info. from last year.
I hunted Cooper and Dino State park last year. Cooper is a compartment hunt, saw deer but too far away for decent shot, unless I count the fawn that ran up too me, literally within 10 yards, I believe momma must have been harvested. Hope that little fella made it.
Dinosaur state park, the assigned blind is tight, I had to adjust back and to the side, bring a few different chairs as options. No one bagged anything, one was shot but never found. Shotgun only as well. Best part of that is hunt is during the day you can kinda run around the park free, its closed for the hunt, so its pretty much there for the hunters to sight see between morning and evening hunting.

I think they may have made improvements to the notification system, I was drawn three times last year, but was never notified on the third draw, which happened to be a second draw.

I am hoping for something a little further from home this year, and an exotic hunt might be nice. Fingers crossed, but as we all know, some years you can get zilch in this system, it is the luck of the draw. Good luck and happy hunting to all who take part in the TWPD draw hunts.

Some years you can get zilch. I have never drawn out for any hunts. But my daughter drew out her first time to apply 3 years ago. But nothing since.

I've been drawn 3 times. Twice for mule deer in west Texas, and one at James Daughtrey. Didn't have any luck on the mule deer hunts, but I shot a good 10 pt at Daughtrey. 20" wide. I'm hoping to get drawn for an exotic hunt as well.

So, when you get drawn, can you take your camper and stay at the same state park you're hunting?

Yes, there is usually information on camping contained in the attachment that can be downloaded.

Thanks for sharing. I pretty much ruled out Dino valley based on the success rate and shotgun only, your post pretty much clinches it. There are some other good looking hunts in the draw.