Was thinking about entering some of the TPWD draws for whitetail,etc. and wondered if anybody here has ever won one. If so, how was your experience?

The Texas Grand Slam draw (desert bighorn, pronghorn, whitetail, & mulies) looks pretty cool, but I'll bet your odds are about the same as getting hit by lightning.

Lots of folks on the OB have been drawn to hunt them.

Was drawn for a west Texas muley hunt a few times when I was younger on Black Gap WMA (youth only hunts). Those were some of the best and most memorable hunting trips I've ever been on.

I've thrown some cash on the Big Time Hunts raffles in the past but always considered it a donation.

I will be registering for a lot of them this fall, it will probably be my only opportunity to hunt unless I pack into a public hunting area.

no

I'm curious if you'll actually get a good chance at a big, mature animal on these hunts.

Been selected for two anterless hunts over the years. Went on one (Daugherty) and passed on Matador.

Bagged a doe at.Daugherty. Well run and am still applying, although focusing on youth hunts for my son and nephew. Besides, most of the non-youth hunts are now held during the week which makes it hard for some of us working stiffs.

Went on a lake granger (bow) draw hunt a few years back. It's not listed on the draw hunts list this year so you should be able to do a walk in public hunt ($48 aph permit). I saw plenty of deer, including 2 pretty nice shooters. Had one at 25 yards but no shot op. Lots of pigs on that place too.

They have taken some really nice deer the last few years, especially during the bow hunts. I'll see if I can dig up the bow kill off the Engling last year.

If you bow hunt, it is really easy to get on as a standby, with a few exceptions.

quote:

---

I'm curious if you'll actually get a good chance at a big, mature animal on these hunts.

---

Got on at matador as a youth at 8 years old. Missed out on a 12 point monster whitetail in the back of the field because I was whistling and walking ahead of my dad. Shot a 4 point little dinky mule about 2 hours later. So yes, they have big deer, and if you aren't stupid, you have a decent chance at them.

As a side note, it was my first deer, and I couldn't be happier.

Killed a nice 4x4 muley with a 24" spread one of those years at Black Gap. Killed a basket rack 5 point another year. The last year i went i didnt kill anything, but I saw a monster that had to have been 30" wide.

Been on a few others, which include doe/spike hunts at Mason Mountain and Somerville. Also a private land hunt in south Texas. Killed a doe at every place except Somerville.

If you search the net hard enough, you can find some pics of bucks killed through these draw hunts. There are some nice ones too.

Ursus, didnt a game warden kill one at Richland Creek WMA last year that scored 177 on a bowhunt?

Edit: took out the face

[This message has been edited by BurrOak (edited 7/20/2012 1:39p).]

[This message has been edited by BurrOak (edited 7/20/2012 1:42p).]

[This message has been edited by BurrOak (edited 7/20/2012 1:46p).]

Yep that is the one. Oddly enough, he was my wildlife techniques class TA.

Google agreed with me on the 177...

^
I think he'd suffice.

Over the years, I have been drawn for 4 hunts.
I got drawn for alligator long before swamp people existed.
I got drawn for javelina 6-7 years ago on the Chap.
Two years ago, we got drawn for both archery deer and gun deer in the same season.