I never knew about these hunts. I have a few questions. I have searched a little but I haven't found what I want to know.

What are the steps to apply?
Do you just fill out the cards and send them in with the little payment and hope you get drawn?

Is there any other things you need go get or apply for before applying for the hunt?

I'm guessing it's kindof like a raffle, right?

If you get drawn then you pay $130 ish for the permit and then you are set?

Then on the dates available you go there and hunt?

Where do you stay? Sleep? Eat?

Do they provide it or do I bring everything to sleep eat clean animals ect...?

I probably have more questions.

I hope this isn't a stupid question that has been asked tons of times or stikied.

To apply you can either do it online or have them send you a booklet thru the mail.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/btth/
You fill out your choice of where you want to hunt and send in a small application fee. You have the same odds as anyone else putting in for the same WMA hunt. These hunts are on your own-self guided and your own food and lodging. Some areas allow camping and some are close enough to town for food and lodging. The extra fees only apply to extended days of hunting 3 days for $80 and 4-5 days for $130. These hunts would be like any lease you were on as to what you need to do. The Big Time Texas Hunts are a little bit different in that you pay a little more per chance to hunt but they come with guiding and lodging.

most of the hunting areas have a very small fee to enter (at least the ones I enter do). IF you are drawn then you have to buy a license to hunt on state land (like 50 bucks). If you are not drawn you get preference points for that area next time you put in for it. Basically they put your name in the hat again for every PP you have. I got drawn on the first time I put in but have been shut out for 4 years in a row. I'm sure someone will come along and give you all the details, I don’t know all the ins and outs, we have one guy that puts a group of us in every year. Good luck and dont forget you can go standby.

^^^^^
This.
It is like Christmas in July at my house when the new TPWD drawn hunts application booklet comes out.

Im still researching on this. I think i have it figured out so far. I still have questions on the extended days? So if you win the hunt, then if you want to have more days you pay more?

I know they change every year so this year may be different.

Thanks for the replys do quickly!!!

No the extended days are set by the WMA you draw for. You have no say in it other than to try for a hunt there.

One doesn't buy a license for the draw hunts(hunting license is required on all hunts), the permit you are referring to is for the Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) $48 which has nothing to do with the drawing hunts. The APH is for the 'walk-in' hunts only where you can come and go as you please on the Units within the APH Map Booklet when a species is listed within the Legal Game Box for that Unit and during the listed dates for that Unit.

If you are selected for a hunt, you will recieve a Letter of Selection in them mail stating what the permit fee required($80 or $130) for each individual on the application 17 or over that wishes to enter the hunt area.

Thanks everyone for the info. I understand it now. I cant wait to try it! Looks like fun! I've been reading other posts about it too. Would be nice to get picked!

Just checked the TPWD website and saw that the online application booklet is already posted. I don't remember ever seeing a hard copy or on-line version before July. Has anyone got the hard copy in the mail yet? Still waiting on mine.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_112_06_12.pdf

The hard copy of the booklet will not be in TPWD hands until the last week in June, then they are mailed bulk by zip code beginning the first week in July to all those who had applied the previous year.

Hey kyotee, I will slip you a 20 if you help a brother out on the longfellow hunt.

I received mine last year the 2nd week of June, had my selections & my check in the mail by July 1. Still didnt get drawn...

This is a good program...I have been able to draw at least one hunt every other year. I have been submitting for these hunts the last 10 years. Got drawn to hunt this past season at devil's river state park for exotics...awsome place.

I hunted Devils River SNA last year, lots of animals. Forget Axis no chance. Take a 4 wheel drive truck and go the the very very back place on the road out..

gonna have to check this out online. never seen it thisearly. i did get drawn for a colorado bull tag for the second rifle season so need something here also soince the landowner I have used for 7 years wants to not lease it starting this year so his kids and their spouses can use it instead.

I've been putting in on these hunts for over 20yrs. They are a great chance for hunts on a budget. Don't forget about the youth hunts available. These are a great way to get kids started and there is no fee if they are drawn.

I have taken my son on a few of the youth hunts and it's always been great. He does not kill deer every hunt but it's always fun and the guys running the hunts have always gone above and beyond my expectations to make it fun for the kids. As far as the adult hunts, I have drawn quite a few of them over the years and never really been on a bad one. I draw an archery hunt almost every year and always have a good hunt and have a very good success rate on the archery hunts so far. The only down side to them is they are mostly during the week but if you can take off work they are worth it usually. It's a great program and I hope they continue it for many years. As for the Whitetail either sex rifle category... I have about 14 preference points and have never drawn that hunt.

That is a lot of preference points. I talked to one guy that had 21 points before he was drawn in that category. Maybe this is your year to draw the Gun Deer Either Sex Category. Do you put in for the same place every year?

No, I don't enter the same place every year but I pick the places that have monster deer so there are tons of applicants for them. I figure when and if I ever draw a hunt there it will be a great hunt. Otherwise I just do my archery hunts and wait to be drawn.

I do the same thing. There are only about 3 places that I enter for the GDE. They are all places that have the potential to have monster bucks. I usually put my name in the hat for whichever of those 3 locations has dates available that coordinate with my work schedule. I too have not been drawn yet for that category.

I'll agree, these hunts are great opportunities to take some sort of animal if you get drawn. I have been putting for 18 years. Some years I'll draw a couple and some only one and of course some years none at all but thats hunting. They dont cost much at all and you could do a couple in a season and not go broke like some of those high dollar leases. My oldest son has taken something every hunt he hass been on. My youngest still has not drawn. Hunting both Texas leases and draws and hunting Oklahoma lease and draw did not have time to cover them all so i gave up the texas deer lease for now. Good luck to every one this year.

so i can enter at every place allowing to hunt say GDE just cant have my mane in twice for each location right???

You can enter for one draw only per hunt category. For example there are probably 20 or so different hunt locations for GDE gun deer either sex, but you can only apply for one of those locations. You can apply one time only for every different category if you choose too.
Good Luck with your choices. Baker