Standby Permits for TPWD Drawing Bowhunts

Beleg · 10-02-2006, 08:17 PM

Every year the LSBA works with TPWD to get the word out about the availability of standby permits for Special Permit Drawing Hunts. It's beginning to look like standby permits may be harder to come by this year. I've had one email from a TPWD wildlife management area about standby permits.

This is the email I received from the biologist at Gus Engeling WMA.

Quote:

We'll have no stand-by positions for the Gus Engeling WMA archery hunt on Oct 17-21, and only 5 stand-by positions on the archery hunt scheduled Nov 4-8.

Bill Adams
Wildlife Biologist, TPWD

Hot4huntin · 10-03-2006, 04:21 PM

Thanks for the info, Bob!!

bowjunkie · 10-03-2006, 06:06 PM

Thanks for keeping up with this every year Bob!

Beleg · 10-14-2006, 10:46 AM

[color=green:52dea6b9ed]Richland Creek WMA does not anticipate having more than one or two Standby Permits for the archery deer hunt next week, Oct 16-20. If it rains over the weekend there may not be any Standby Permits at all available. Richland Creek WMA is black land river bottom flood plain and access to many of the compartments is really restricted when it gets muddy. The Area Manager will make sure all his drawn bowhunters have a place to hunt before accepting any standby hunters.

A much better standby opportunity will be at Big Lake Bottom WMA on Oct 23-27. There is only one drawn bowhunter for this hunt and 20 Standby Permits are available. The Area Manager told me that every bowhunter last year got a shot on the Big Lake Bottom WMA. Not everyone got a deer but all the bowhunters saw deer and got a shot. It doesn

Beleg · 10-19-2006, 08:57 PM

Only one drawn hunter is scheduled to show up for the Oct 23-27 hunt at Big Lake Bottom WMA. TPWD is hoping several Standby hunters will be there.

Quote:

BIG LAKE BOTTOM WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Anderson County
Big Lake Bottom WMA comprises 2,870 acres located 15 miles
southwest of Palestine. The entire area lies within the floodplain of the
Trinity River, and is a remote, heavily forested bottomland hardwood
habitat. It is recommended that hunters bring rubber footware and a
compass.
Portable deer stands that do not damage trees are encouraged and
will increase hunter success. Portable blinds are not available at the Area.
One primitive campground is available to hunters and permit holders.
DUE TO VERY LIMITED ACCESS AND DISTANCE TO HUNTING
COMPARTMENTS (often 2-3 miles), USE OF ATVs AND OTHER ORVs IS
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. ATVs must be operated in accordance with
state law regulating the use of ATVs on public land. Caution should be
taken during rainy weather as this area is prone to flooding. High water
may result in cancellation of scheduled hunts on short notice. Call the Big
Lake BottomWMAheadquarters for further information (903/389-7080).

Here's a better map from the Annual Public Hunting Permit booklet. The information on the map is for hunts under the Annual Public Hunting permit and not the Standby Permits for the drawing hunt.

Hot4huntin · 10-20-2006, 09:44 AM

Bob, thanks for taking time to post this info!!! It is a shame that some of the permits go to waste when so many people are looking for a place to hunt. Thanks for all you do for the LSBA and bowhunting!!

bowjunkie · 10-21-2006, 09:05 AM

Ditto again.

Maybe those of us that hunt public land and draw hunts should compile a brag book on one of the online photo site (photobucket...etc) at the end of each year on all the archery sites to encourage more people to participate in them. I know the biggest complaint I hear from folks who either wont hunt them, or quit hunting them is that 'there is no game', you can't bait or that they are too crowded. I know opening weekend at the SHNF there were hardly any vehicles again this year and it seems like there has been a steady decline the last 5. The area I hunted the road I drove was over a mile long and not one vehicle and total land area back there between creeks and fire breaks had to be roughly 5000 acres. For a total 162,000 acre (253 square miles) chunk of land I have one of the biggest leases in Texas at only $48 per year!

The last 2 trips on Draw hunts (with Sp!ke at Coletto Creek and then as a guest with Beleg last year at a place near Livingston) I shot a doe then a spike last year. Both of these on just one day scouting and no baiting.