As a non-resident there is no way I could consider trying for a standby position, unless I was already there for another reason. Just wondering, a question for some of you who do choose to show up for a standby drawing at a Public Hunt.

How far will you typically drive, in hopes of getting lucky on some of these hunts (Chap, Matador, etc.) . With some hunt applications numbering in the thousands, the chance of getting drawn for a standby hunt is orders of magnitude better. Maybe only 50-100 show up in the parking lot. You would have to show up with your stuff for hunting, all gear, and camping stuff. Maybe even have a reservation for one night at a motel, just in case.

We go to Matador for archery and antlerless standby about 230 miles one way.

I have driven to the Chap. for stand by. A 100 miles or so. Stand by has way better odds than the draw.

I have driven to theChaparral WMA several times for standby. 350 miles each way

My plan when I retire is to drive all over Texas during hunting season just to do standbys.

Hour and a half seems like a good limit.

Grizz: That would be an amazing way to see lots of Texas that I have never got to experience. You guys are my heroes; I thought maybe an hour or two, tops, but 350 miles???

I was all worked up about hunting Garner once upon a time....drove 9+ hours from Lake Texoma down there and walked up to the checkin counter and scored a Stand By Permit just for the asking...later I found out WHY there was so many left over unclaimed Stand By Tags available too...and will never ever hunt Garner again for anything except a dip in the river. Fool me once, shame on me, and TMI TMI for here.
Ron

I guess it depends on the quality of the hunt and what plan B I can line up to do instead if not drawn. I went to Gus Engeling with a family member trying to get a standby spot for an alligator hunt. Not drawn, but we had brought the equipment to fish for alligator gar as an alternate thing to do near the same area. We had a great time. It really would have sucked if we just drove straight back home.

I was on an Aoudad hunt at Caprock once. There were several standby hunters from all over for one spot. One non resident drove down from Colorado and did not get drawn. He wheeled back out the door to go straight back to Colorado. I stopped him and inquired. He said there was no place else he could have the same free range trophy aoudad potential at such a low cost to non residents as that hunt. So it was worth the drive for him. The staff said he came down for standby every year.

160 miles or about 3 hours one-way, easy round trip if not selected. There are a couple of hunts closer, half that distance/time; I only take what I need to hunt that evening if selected. I hunt a refuge quite a bit, not so much since it fell into the Texas draw system. From my door to where I park, I make the round trip every day: easy trip, only two blinking stoplights, and no mosquitos.

One of the reasons when I was looking for house west of I-35 to move to in the Temple VA System was to get close enough to a large # of standby huntable Lottery sites ...best laid plans and all that happened to prevent that though when other requirements were added to the Minimum Basic Requirements. equasion.

There is nothing wronfg with where we live now, but It would not break my heart now that those Minimum Requirements have changed, to go thru the efffort to find what I was l looking for in another house West of I-35 while I am still mobile enough. At my age and always hunting alone since most of my hunting pards have already or are super close to passing, I'd like to be able to be found readily doing what I like best if I don't check out at sundown and would have no regrets about it.
Ron

I have driven about 300 miles for standby but when I drove that far I tried to line up multiple hunts. That way I had multiple chances to make a hunt. It has worked out for me a couple different times where I missed on the first hunt but got drawn for one of the later hunts. But there are a couple places I would not drive that far as they are very popular and have huge numbers of standbys show up. I got drawn for Kerr either sex last year and they had a 47 people show up for standby and they drew 4. But for management they had 19 show up for standby and all got to hunt. Just depends on hunt, location, and do you feel lucky.

400-600 miles, most of the cool stuff is clear across state from Nacogdoches. I can shoot whitetails in the back yard if i want too but i figure go big or go home. If I can make the drive in a day I'm good to go. Besides, 8 hrs in the truck with my boys is time well spent.