Special Drawing Permits for Hunting Opportunities on Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Hunting Areas
The purpose of the system is to provide information about Special Drawing Permits for Hunting Opportunities available on Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Hunting Areas. Information is provided through the Special Drawing and Regular Permit Hunting Opportunities (PDF 3.8 MB) booklet and online. The Public Hunting Drawing System provides low-cost, high-quality public hunting opportunities on over one million acres. Individuals are drawn to receive a Special Permit by random selection done by computer from a qualified pool of applicants. Current and former applicants can receive information on preference points, status of a submitted application, and drawing results, by calling 512/389-8221 to access the Public Hunting Program's automated information system.
Special Permit Hunt Categories for Drawn Hunts
General
- Alligator
- Archery Alligator
- Archery Exotic
- Archery Deer
- Archery Mule Deer
- Exotic Only
- Feral Hog
- Gun Deer; Antlerless/Spike
- Gun Deer; Either Sex
- Gun Mule Deer
- Gun Pronghorn; Buck Only
- Javelina
- Management Deer - Either Sex
- Private Lands Deer - Either Sex and Antlerless/Spike
- Private Lands Pronghorn
- Spring Turkey
Guided
- Guided Bighorn Sheep Hunt Package
- Guided Antelope Hunt Package
- Guided Deer Hunt Package
- Guided Gemsbock Hunt Package
- Guided Scimitar-Horned Oryx Hunt Package
- Guided Waterbuck Hunt Package
Youth Only
- Youth Only Alligator
- Youth Only Gun Deer; Either Sex
- Youth Only Gun Deer; Anterless/Spike
- Youth Only Deer Management; Either Sex
- Youth Only Feral Hog
- Youth Only Javelina
- Youth Only Spring Turkey
- Youth Only Exotic
Age Requirements
Youth applicants must be between 8 and 16 years of age. Youth under 8 years of age are not eligible to participate in the drawings. Youth between 8 and 16 years of age must apply as a member of a party and not as a single applicant. Applications for youth must contain the name of a parent or guardian (18 years of age or older) who will serve as a sponsor. If the application is drawn and the permits are issued, then the youth must be under the direct supervision of the permitted sponsor who will be responsible for their conduct during the hunt. Failure of the parent or guardian to properly supervise the youth will be cause for the forfeiture of the permits of both hunters. Each applicant, including minors, must have their own Social Security Number.
Youth-only hunt drawings
Eight categories of drawn hunts offer hunting by supervised youth only. On these hunts, only the youth (between 8 and 16 years of age) will be allowed to hunt; however, the youth must be supervised by a non-hunting adult (18 years of age or older) who possesses a valid hunting license. The Application fee and the hunt permit fee is waived for all participants in youth only hunts.
Fees
Fees that are involved with this program are as follows:
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Each applicant 17 years of age or older is charged a $3 or $10 application fee according to the hunt applied for. If you are drawn for a hunt, then each applicant 17 years of age or older is charged a permit fee. Permit fees will be requested when you are notified of selection for a hunt.
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On Youth Only hunts, both the application fee and the permit fee are waived for both the non-hunting adult supervisor and the youth hunter.
Special Permit recipients are selected by a random drawing. This system contains all information and application screens necessary to apply for the drawing for these Special Permits.
Using the Public Hunting System
Applying for a Special Hunting Permit for Drawn Hunts
There are two sources of information about Special Permit hunts available through the Public Hunting System.
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Each hunting season, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department publishes Special Drawing and Regular Permit Hunting Opportunities. (PDF 3.8 MB) If you wish to have a copy mailed to you, please call 1-800-792-1112 (menu 5, selection 1) to receive an application booklet through the mail. The booklet contains charts, a calendar, descriptions of areas open to Public Hunting through the Public Hunt Drawing System and other information regarding hunting permits. Application cards can be found in the back of the booklet or as a separate form (PDF 280.8 KB) .
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The online public hunting system allows the user to interactively search by area and/or type of hunt and fill out the application cards. To use the online Public Hunting System, please see the Instructions for the Public Hunts System for application cards and procedures to apply for Special Permit Hunts.