Howdy guys. This is the first time I've applied for any type of public land hunt so this is all new to me. I will be going solo if selected but if I wanted to bring my 9 year old daughter would that be a problem or should I have put her on the application to start? Since most are during the week it's not a big deal. I think just starting out I would rather go alone to get a feel for how it works.

What am I in for and do you guys have any suggestion/tips? At this point I really just want to get out in the field and I'm not too hung up on tagging something. If I do happen to get something I'd consider it a bonus. I picked a couple that are a good drive from home in Katy just to get some pretty scenery!

I applied for the following hunts:
National Refuge General Deer @ Balcones Canyonlands NWR 12-1-17/12-3-17 or 12-8-17/12-10-17
Gun Mule Deer @ Elephant Mountain WMA 1-2-18/1-5-18
E-Post Archery Deer @ James Daughtrey WMA 11-6-17/11-24-17
Gun Deer Either Sex @ Daughtrey 1-9-18/1-12-18
Gun Mule Deer @ Matador WMA 12-11-17/12-15-17
Private Lands Either Sex @ McMullen County Ranch 12-26-17/12-28-17

In order to bring your Daughter she will have to be drawn as well. The good news is they will not charge for your kid to apply or for a permit if you draw.

All the draw hunts are long shots so you better keep your fingers crossed.

Good luck in the draws.

Are there other hunts like these that aren't draw. I'm ok if I don't get picked at first. Just trying to get my feet wet. Isn't there something in place that increases your odds of getting picked year after year? Loyalty points or something like that?

Pull up the TPW Home Page web site. Find Hunting subject on top tool bar & open it. Look on the left side under Hunting for the Permits section. Find the APH "Annual Public Hunt" topic and open it. Its the best $48 investment you'll ever make for a selection of place's to hunt and the answer to your question.
Ron

Thanks! I just applied for a couple more.

I'll keep my fingers crossed and see what happens.

Actually, it's sort of up to the manager at the site. My wife and I put in separate on a standby hunt. I got picked and she didn't. So I asked the park ranger if she could sit with me and be an observer, he said yes which was really nice of him. After the first day several people left and said they were not returning so the park ranger offered my wife one of their positions which was extremely nice. She ended up shooting a nice doe in my spot. I was proud of her and kinda butt hurt because she stole my spot. Oh well, I was just trying to keep that crazy B happy but knowing that we would end up divorced I'd given her my keys and told her to pick me up 3 days.

LMAO!!!