My son drew the Elephant Mountain management deer hunt and we both drew the NWR Laguna Atascosa general deer. The only problem is the Elephant Mountain ends on 12/1 and the NWR starts on 12/1 and they are almost 700 miles apart. 15 points for Elephant Mountain and 6 for NWR. Got to see what he wants to do.
2023 controlled hunts
- Thread starter WildWill
- Start date
THIS is good info!
Thank you.
WildWill
Well-known member
Exotic results are out nothing here. Goodluck guys!
Please don't tell us it only took 12 years.
Cornell Cowboy
Well-known member
My son killed a whitetail on a Colorado Bend youth hunt a couple years ago. Our compartment was assigned after an orientation and a check-in.
Just looked, apparently I've been giving Texas my money for 4 years. I honestly never thought I'd see my name come up for anything good... 3200+ applicants for 50 permits translates to roughly 1.5% draw odds.
I'm squarely in the camp of people @bts09 was referring to, only throwing my name in the hat because it was so cheap.
Now, do any of you folks live in south Texas and want to help a typically unlucky Pennsylvanian kill a couple of Nilgai?
Yeah, I have thoughts about the Texas drawn hunt system. I'm glad it's open to residents of other states (or really, anyone), but I don't love that there is no preference at all given to residents, especially considering how few public hunting opportunities there are in Texas because of the absolute paucity of public lands as compared to most western states. And the whole cubed preference point system is absolutely bogus.
(as a result, @jt13, your draw odds calculation was probably off a bit--you likely had a much worse than 1.5% chance of drawing that tag...for example, last year there were 416 applicants in that draw that each had 6 preference points, meaning 6*6*6*416 entries for those 416 applicants alone--that's about 90,000, so even if everyone else only had one point...)
Good luck on your Nilgai hunt. I doubt you'll have too much trouble finding them.
(as a result, @jt13, your draw odds calculation was probably off a bit--you likely had a much worse than 1.5% chance of drawing that tag...for example, last year there were 416 applicants in that draw that each had 6 preference points, meaning 6*6*6*416 entries for those 416 applicants alone--that's about 90,000, so even if everyone else only had one point...)
Good luck on your Nilgai hunt. I doubt you'll have too much trouble finding them.
PorterHouse
Well-known member
Good luck @jt13! I hear they are great eating. If I didn't have three under 5 in the house and an already busy schedule, would gladly tag along.
Greyman
Well-known member
I've been drawn for Exotic at Devils River Del Norte Unit in January. From what I understand, there is a real nice population of aoudad. It's gonna be an awesome hunt!
WildWill
Well-known member
I drew last year it was amazing! The aoudad are everywhere with a few axis, and corsican sheep around as well.
HuntTalk Freak
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2018
- Messages
- 1,168
I use to put in for that because I wanted to hunt that country. I think I’m done after this year. I’ve put in for so many tags for years and never drew anything.
Congrats though! Hope you have a great time time and tag some animals!
PorterHouse
Well-known member
Good luck…let us know how you do!
Greyman
Well-known member
The deadline for Bighorn is Nov 1 and the drawing will be Nov 2.
oletomtalker
New member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2023
- Messages
- 2
My 2 boys drew hunt there at the La Sal Del Rey unit Thanksgiving weekend.
It took some negotiationg but I got permission from the better half to chase Nilgai in south Texas, but I'll be going it alone. I've got my flight and rental car booked for Laguna Atascosa!
I'm still sorting out lodging, looking at cheap hotels or AirBnbs. If anyone has any suggestions around Brownsville/Port Isabel, I'm all ears. Also looking for the best way to obtain a deer cart, mountain bike, and some freezer space to use for a few days.
I'm still sorting out lodging, looking at cheap hotels or AirBnbs. If anyone has any suggestions around Brownsville/Port Isabel, I'm all ears. Also looking for the best way to obtain a deer cart, mountain bike, and some freezer space to use for a few days.
oletomtalker
New member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2023
- Messages
- 2
What dates are you hunting? I know several guys on TexasBowhunter that are drawn there this year.
