Standbys

Debating making the gamble and going for some standby slots if any are available. Its looking like most I am interested in are at least 4 hours from me. How far are you willing to drive for a chance? How often has it paid off?

I have only done standby at 1 location. (4) times total and it is a 2hr 15 min drive, but if not picked I drive another 2 hours to a property I have permission to hunt.
We have done youth standby at the local WMA but that is only 20 min. away.

I drove to Powderhorn once for a chance at a standby along with 140 other hopefulls. I got to see the ranch and then leave. All was not lost on the trip since I was able to buy some fresh shrimp.

I have been selected on other standby opportunities. It really depends on the location and if you are fine with make the trip to only come up empty handed.


The thought I use to inform my decision is, "I for sure will not be drawn if I stay home" . Also, I have plenty of vacation days to take, so if its a hunt I'm really interested in, I take the day to have a chance.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Get out in traffic and go take a chance.

I would have no problem driving to any of them in the state if I was interested in one enough at the time. But any standby try I do I will line up some alternate thing to do if not drawn. Like fishing, scouting, kayaking, arrowhead dig, or hunting some other open public land I'm interested in. For example a family member and I tried standby for an alligator hunt on gus engeling. Not drawn, our alternate was a day alligator gar fishing on the river outside of the WMA. It did make the drive home long, but not because we were denied the hunt. It was because we were worn out from a great day of fishing.
I was on an aoudad hunt at Caprock Canyons State Park once when a gentleman from Colorado had driven several hours to try for standby on that hunt. Not drawn he turned around and drove the several hours straight back home. They said he had been back to try standby every year, but never drawn. Yea, I'm not doing that unless I have something else lined up to do if I don't draw.

To me it depends on which hunt it is. I've seen a duck hunts where everyone gets to hunt, including standbys. The most recent archery-deer hunt I was at, there were maybe 25 standbys and 3 or 4 got drawn. It wasn't one of the more in-demand hunts. For the really desirable hunts (mule deer, certain gun-deer, exotics, etc), I wouldn't even try unless I had something else lined up as stated above.

Often times you can simply call the park ranger heading up the hunt and get them to give you the lowdown. Most of the time they'll tell you if they expect to have a stand by slot(s), and how many people on average show up trying to draw standby status. Last year on my Matagorda Island hunt 20 standby's boated out to the island for a chance at 9 slots. So roughly 50% got to stay and hunt. Was a major commitment for those 20 people because they had to be ready to stay and camp for 3 day's if drawn, and have everything needed ready to go in their boat.

I have been drawn a couple of times and some times I called before and they said there was no stand by available. I'm like others I look for something to do if not drawn so I make it worth the trip. With the Biden Misery Index (BMI) like it is I would definitely call before going now.

Based on the price of gas and having to board my dogs its looking like even taking the chance to drive down will be pretty pricey. Definitely will have to call beforehand.

I have been on a bunch of hunts standby. Always call before you go to make sure there are spots available and what time you have to be there. The furthest I have driven on a standby is 7 hours.

I have been to a few standby hunts (4-5) and have never gotten drawn. I showed up one time with 5 openings and 7 of us hunters and of course, I did not get drawn. I spoke to a hunter which showed up the day before the standby at the Chaparral WMA. He drove down from the Dallas area to try for a standby spot for the big buck rifle hunt. He pulled down a travel trailer loaded with everything. Over 90 people showed up for standby's and only one card was selected. He drove all the way back to Dallas that same day! This I would NOT do.

I have driven 8 hours from Louisiana to hunt javelina hunts several times, have always gotten picked. The CHap and JD WMA almost always have small standby numbers for these javelina hunts and everyone gets to hunt.
But some of the hunts like the Chap either sex deer hunt, have better standby odds then the general draw. Standby is typically about 50:1 where as the general is double or triple that. I've never driven for that hunt but would have no problem at all if I lived within 3 hours or so from the WMAs.

alot depends on the hunt itself. I probably would not do it for one of the lesser deer hunts, but Chap is worth the chance if you're close.

I also believe that you should have to put in an application (and have a copy of your receipt) for the area that you are going to for standby to even be put in the standby drawing.
Hunters that paid the app fee for that area should get first shot.

I have attempted standby at a fair number of hunts over the last several years. It is as many say sometimes you get drawn and sometimes you drive home. You can look at the stats from past years and see how many people showed up for standby and how many were drawn. The really popular hunts have LOTS of people show up and many get to go home. But as pointed out if you aren't there then you definitely won't get drawn. How far to drive just depends on you determination and understanding it is more likely you won't get picked. Highly recommend calling before you drive to get details on how many standbys will be drawn and at what time. What is posted on tpwd public draw hunt site doesn't always turn out to be what actually happens. Most of the time it is but I have learned the hard way it can vary.