I was drawn for Fairfield Lake State Park for Antlerless/Spike, Yippeee! First time trying this year and able to get something

Questions, since i'm a rookie:

1. Hunt is for 11/30 through 12/2..... If i only take 2 days off work, and want to hunt 12/1 and 12/2, does the below check in time of 11am apply to first day i'm hunting, or is it that you have to check in at 11am on 11/30, or you can't hunt? Anyone know?

2. If an adult is chosen, me in this case for hunt, can i take along my 9 year old son just to observe and have fun?


NOTICE: All park rules and regulations must be adhered to unless superseded by hunting regulations.
Permitted hunter should report to the Park by 11:00 a.m. and standby hunters should report to Park headquarters by 08:30 a.m. on the first day of the hunt period to complete the application process. Standby hunters will be drawn at 09:00 a.m. as vacancies permit. Hunters must contact the area as soon as possible if they are unable to attend their accepted hunt or not able to arrive on the first day for orientation. Following a brief orientation, hunters will be taken to their blinds by Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel. Hunters must hunt only in assigned blinds. Hunting will end at 12:00 p.m. on the final day of the assigned hunt.

When you pay and they send you more info there will be a contact and you can email or call them. I've never had to show up after the 1st day so I'm not sure how they work it out.

Congrats and good luck. We got drawn there a couple of years ago and the staff is great. Saw plenty of deer, but most were bucks. Had a mature doe broadside at about 30 yards, but didn't shoot due to the fact she came in behind my blind and was standing directly between me and my truck.

To answer your first question they will hold your permit if you can't make it the first day if you let them know but you'll get last pick of stand location which could be he worst, IF they allow folks to choose stands. Some places just do a random draw on stands. Don't expect them to let you out hunting until they go through the orientation process so you can't just show up the second day early and expect them to let you go straight to the stand, you'll have to wait until the park staff arrives in the morning. There is quite a bit of red tape on these hunts, kinda makes me sick. For question number two they will absolutely NOT allow people not on the draw card on the property during the draw hunts, so your son will not be allowed to observe, again the red tape.

Never hurts to ask the local staff about bringing your son, but, they have may not be good with for the obvious safety reasons. Youth hunts are intended for that, so for these hunts, chances are they will deny your request.