I spend way too much time on it each year researching the areas, game, etc, but it's enjoyable. Applied for like 60 hunts last year.

I enjoy the whole process. Researching, comparing hunt stats, trying to be strategic. We have good points in exotic, mule deer, pronghorn, all of the private lands and turkey. We have probably hunted on 15-20 sites over the years. Im ready for it to begin. The days they draw i am pretty worthless at work.

Refresh, refresh, refresh...

Between Myself, My kids and group applications, I was on something like 98 Applications last year! Was my highest amount to date. Granted the kids being in it now pumps those numbers up. I don't guess I should count those since technically I'm not allowed to hunt on those draws.

Just looked, it was actually 94 applications!

i was in the 45 app range and with the 3 kiddos and minding some dates we were in about 60 different draws.

Where did you shoot the Ibex? New Mexico?

Mason mountain. I hunted it twice the first year. I think the first one was the first public drawn archery hunt there. In Sept and over 100 degrees. We were told we were the first humans some of the exotics had ever seen. My Ibex was lost, but later found by another hunter who brought the head in on a following hunt, so I was able to retrieve the rotten head while there on a doe hunt. I brought home an Axis doe from that hunt, but did not kill it. Another hunter who did only wanted the hide and asked if anyone wanted the deer. Everyone present spoke up, but I was closest and immediately had my hand on his shoulder.

Who wouldn't want some Axis????

Man i cant wait! Lets get going, you already gave me the fever!

BIL and I have 20 points in Exotic. Here's hoping this year.

My loyalty points:

Gator - 1
Exotic - 2
Guided Gems - 3
Guided SHO - 3
Gun Deer - Antlerless/Spike - 6
Gun Deer - Either Sex - 4
Gun Deer - Management - 2
Gun Mule Deer - 1
Javelina - 5
National Refuge Alligator - 1
National Refuge Deer Antlerless/Spike - 1
National Refuge Exotic - 1
National Refuge General Deer - 1
National Refuge Spring Turkey - 1
Private Lands - Antlerless/Spike - 4
Private Lands - Either Sex - 4
Private Lands Feral Hog - 2
Private Lands Turkey - 1
Pronghorn - 1
Spring Turkey - 1

Some past hunts:

Gun Mule Deer Matador WMA
Private Lands - Antlerless/Spike Kerr County - Kerrville Schreiner Park
Gun Deer - Antlerless/Spike Lake Whitney SP
National Refuge General Deer Balcones Canyonlands NWR
Gun Deer - Either Sex Alazan Bayou WMA
National Refuge Archery Deer Aransas NWR
National Refuge General Deer Aransas NWR
Gun Deer - Management Roger Fawcett WMA
Javelina Elephant Mountain WMA
Archery Deer Government Canyon SNA
E-Postcard Feral Hog Nannie Stringfellow WMA
E-Postcard Waterfowl Richland Creek WMA - Carl Frentress Unit
Feral Hog Guadalupe Delta WMA
Gun Deer - Antlerless/Spike Seminole Canyon SP / HS
National Refuge General Deer Trinity River NWR – Brierwood
National Refuge Upland Game Trinity River NWR – Butler
E-Postcard Squirrel Keechi Creek WMA
National Refuge Exotic Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR – Teniente
National Refuge Feral Hog Hagerman NWR
National Refuge Muzzleloader Deer Trinity River NWR – Brierwood
Alligator Mad Island WMA
Gun Deer - Antlerless/Spike Richland Creek WMA - Trinity Unit
Standbys at Lake Brownwood SP and Stephen F. Austin SP

These are the ones I am looking forward to this year.

Archery Mule Deer 14
Exotic 13
Gun Mule Deer 10
Private Lands - Either Sex 13
Private Lands - Pronghorn 11
Pronghorn 14
Spring Turkey 11

Hope someone else tags out like this with a TPWD hunt this year!

Hell of a buck. Congrats.

And this.

Great one!!

I have been putting in for drawing hunts since the mid 90's and in the beginning I had very good luck getting selected. Lately, I have had NO luck to include nothing in the past 5 years. I'm at 15 points in Gun Deer Either Sex. Granted, I have been trying for some premium hunts, but damn, there are better odds getting picked for other states with trophy elk hunts for non residents. I'll try again this year, but I haven't been very excited lately because of the lack of opportunities for so long.

Man that is some trophy country to get to hunt as well!

Drawn hunts came out yesterday.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/public_hunt_drawing/hunt-categories.phtml

Time to start all the madness. Cross referencing dates with work and 2 kids in club volleyball limits us(somewhat).

I'm sure we'll still have 80+apps in...

Well I spent $90 on 23 hunts. Might put in for a few more, but now have to wait for the E-Postcard hunts to be available.

Just Gun Mule Deer at Big Bend SP and Guided Bighorn. 'Got 14 points in each. 'Wish I could give my mule deer points to someone.

I mainly just want to see Big Bend SP and we haven't taken the time to go back down there. I'm getting too old to race around out there and try to find ice, if I am fortunate enough to down something.

I drew Sierra Diablo mule deer once and was successful. 'Drew Rita Blanca Pronghorn a few years ago and saw a great buck, just too long of a poke and other hunters started stirring them up shortly thereafter.

Your aint gonna draw sh*t

Just donated my yearly $250! Will add to it once the post card hunts are up… It’s a small price to pay to get my son and I out to hunt new areas around the state “fingers crossed”.