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Texas Hunters Have New Options This Fall with Drawn Hunt Permits Program

This autumn, hunters across Texas can discover new terrain and chase a wide range of game through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Drawn Hunt Permits Program. Applications are now open, offering outdoor enthusiasts a shot at nearly 9,600 permits in more than 60 top-tier hunt categories spread across public and private lands statewide.

Gary Emmert
1–2 minutes

This fall, Texas hunters have a fresh chance to explore new landscapes and pursue diverse game, thanks to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Drawn Hunt Permits Program. With applications now open, outdoor enthusiasts can compete for nearly 9,600 permits across more than 60 high-quality hunt categories, spanning both public and private lands.

“This program is not only affordable,” said Kelly Edmiston, TPWD’s Public Hunting Coordinator, “but it also offers incredible variety—allowing hunters to experience terrain from the Panhandle to South Texas, the Trans-Pecos to the Pineywoods. You might find yourself hunting at a state park, wildlife management area, national refuge, or private property. The possibilities stretch across nearly every species Texas offers.”

Available Hunts Include:

  • White-tailed and mule deer
  • Pronghorn
  • Turkey, dove, and alligator
  • Exotic species and bighorn sheep (guided packages)

Last year saw over 300,000 applications, underscoring the program’s popularity and demand.

Applications are due the 1st and 15th of each month from August 1 to November 1.

  • Aug. 1: Alligator hunts, private land dove
  • Aug. 15: Archery deer and mule deer, pronghorn, javelina

Fees and Eligibility

  • Application fees range from free to $10
  • If drawn, permit fees are $80 (regular) or $130 (extended)
  • Youth-only and select categories require no fees
  • Open to Texas residents and non-residents

To apply for e-Postcard and U.S. Forest Service antlerless deer permits, hunters need a valid Annual Public Hunt Permit (APH)—on sale beginning August 15. Revenue from last year’s APH permits exceeded $2.8 million, bolstering conservation efforts.

The Drawn Hunts Catalog features an interactive map to explore hunts by category or location. All applications and payments are managed online; participants need internet access, an email address, and a credit/debit card. A Customer ID from your hunting/fishing license streamlines the process.

For full details and to begin your application, visit the TPWD Drawn Hunts site, email hunt@tpwd.texas.gov, or call (512) 389-4505 during business hours.

This news was highlighted during the latest episode of On the Dock with Rick Smith, which aired yesterday on KNCT. The show—broadcast every Wednesday and Friday at 6:15pm—continues to bring timely updates and local insights to outdoor enthusiasts across Central Texas.

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