NDN98, your missing out on the best category:

Mule Deer!

Alligator
Pronghorn and PLP
Mule Deer
WT GDA, GDE, GDM, PLA, PLE
Exotics
Turkey
Hogs
Javelina

My nephews get entered in all eight youth hunt categories.

All of them!

Left that one out for some reason. I have several preference points in that category too and hoping this is my year!

How do I get a booklet? I looked at the TPWD website and I get a little confused navigateing all the options, Drawn Hunts, Public land hunting,National Forest, WMA's, and all the different permits needed. I wish it was broken down a little simpler, for my simple mind.

You can visit your nearest TPWD office and they should have some.

Drawn Hunts are what you are looking for, HERE.

The 'Interactive Drawn Hunt Search' link on that page will allow you to select the hunts and dates you want in each category, and then it will automatically fill the application out for you, which you then will need to print out and mail in to TPWD.

You can click on the 'Special Drawing and Regular Permit Hunting Opportunities', and that is a PDF of the entire booklet. It's exactly what you would receive in the mail. I just printed the entire thing out at my office, that way I don't have to wait for the booklet to arrive in the mail.

Thanks MikeHoncho

I put in for everything except alligator and doe hunts.

I haven't entered in years. Previously, I'd enter for quite a few. I was never drawn. As such, I don't hold out much hope of getting drawn this year either. But I'll give it a shot anyway. Nothing to lose.

I'll be entering for WT and MD bucks, as well as the Grand Slam and Pronghorn. I don't really care to chase but a few of the exotics. No interest at all in hunting javelina, hogs, ducks, or dove.

I stopped by the TPWD office in Fort Worth last week and they hadn't gotten any books in yet.

My apps booklet arrived in yesterday's mail.
Never been drawn before, but maybe no one will put in for the Chaparral this year and I'll get lucky! Hah!
I'm pretty sure if they had 100 permits available and 98 applicants they still wouldnt draw my name!

I have entered the last three years and been drawn every year. Just been lucky with management and antlerless hunts thus far.

I only put in for the Buck, Muley and Antelope hunts. And of course only at the WMAs that are the most sought after so they have the worst odds of being drawn for. I have multiple people on my card so it may never happen.

I put in for all of them. Some of the crappier places have good draw odds for deer.

I have a question about the bow hunts. If the hunt doesn't list any restrictions , does that mean they allow crossbows? I noticed that some restrict the use of crossbows and some have no restrictions at all

Good question since x-bows are now legal in Archery season.
I didn't see anything in the book that said you couldn't.

Toward the back of the book, there is a section with the description and contact info for each of the WMA's. You can call up the individual WMA and ask them about the rules and weapons restrictions for the hunts.

RC - all catagories and GE - alligator. Hope kids get drawn for youth alligator!!!!

Do those of you that have leases still put in for the Whitetail hunts?

I can really only hunt weekends and I am pretty sure I will be able to take antlerless on my property. I would hate to go on one of those hunts for a weekend then not be able to hunt my own place with possible bucks showing up.

I guess I just know after my brother and I fill or hopefully fill our tags will I really be willing to spend extra money to hunt and possibly processing on another animal? That probably won't be a trophy?

Is it about hunting a new area? Just getting out there? I guess I could take an antlerless and then donate the meat.

Just a few things that are going through my mind.

You bet!!
We put in for the places that are different from E Tx, where we hunt.