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TPWD Public Hunt Drawing · 2026-27

Texas Drawn Hunts

8 drawing categories and 62 hunt types, from youth gun deer to guided oryx. Applications are online only, with deadlines on the 1st and 15th of the month.

DeadlinesCategoriesAreas with drawn hunts
8Categories
62Hunt types
$3Adult application
154Areas with draws

Photo: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0)

How the drawing works

  • Online-only applications.
  • Deadlines the 1st and 15th of each month.
  • Drawings next business day.
  • Winners claim permits online within 10 days. Applicants at least 8 (NWR hunts 9).
  • Under 17 must apply with a supervising adult 18+.

Statewide means apply unless the hunt restricts them; 400 sq in hunter orange on hunt areas when firearm hunting is allowed; no hunting from vehicles; dogs only for squirrel, rabbit, hare and game birds other than turkey; no buckshot unless allowed; deer must be taken directly to the check station.

Sources: Public Hunt Drawing; age requirements; hunt rules, as published on October 11, 2026.

Every category and hunt type

Applicants under 17 apply with a supervising adult 18 or older; youth pay no fees.

Special Permit (general)

11 hunt types

Alligator, Alligator Management, Exotic, Feral Hog, Gun Deer Antlerless/Spike, Gun Deer Either Sex, Gun Deer Management, Javelina, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Spring Turkey.

Special Permit (archery)

2 hunt types

Deer, Mule Deer.

Private Lands

6 hunt types

Deer Antlerless/Spike, Deer Either Sex, Dove, Feral Hog, Pronghorn, Quail.

Youth Only

8 hunt types

Alligator, Exotic, Feral Hog, Gun Deer Antlerless/Spike, Gun Deer Either Sex, Gun Deer Management, Javelina, Spring Turkey.

Guided packages

3 hunt types

Exotic, Gemsbok Hunt, Scimitar-Horned Oryx.

E-Postcard (APH required)

17 hunt types

Deer, Feral Hog, Feral Hog/Predator, Furbearer/Predator, Multi Species, Predator, Quail, Squirrel, Teal, Turkey, Waterfowl, Waterfowl/Pheasant, Archery Deer, Youth Archery Deer, Youth Only Deer, Youth/Adult Feral Hog, Youth/Adult Waterfowl.

U.S. Forest Service deer permits

4 hunt types

Antlerless Deer Permit – Youth, Antlerless Deer Permit – Adult, Buck Deer Permit – Adult, Buck Deer Permit – Youth.

National Wildlife Refuge

11 hunt types

Alligator, Deer, Deer Antlerless/Spike, Exotic, Feral Hog, Spring Turkey, Archery Deer, Archery Exotic, Upland Game, Youth Deer, Muzzleloader Deer.

Sources: hunt categories, as published on October 11, 2026.

Fees

FeeAmountNotes
Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit$48Required for adults 17+ on TPWD public hunting lands; season hunting license required to buy.
Drawn hunt application fee$3 per adult; $10 Private Lands and Guided categories; youth freeNon-refundable. USFS deer permits and E-Postcard hunts: no fee but APH required (17+).
Drawn hunt permit fee$80 standard (2-3 day) / $130 extended (4-5 day)Adults 17+; no fee for youth under 17.
Big Time Texas Hunts entry$9 online ($5 admin fee per transaction) / $10 retailUnlimited entries; no license required to enter.

Application $3 per adult ($10 Private Lands and Guided); youth free. Permit $80 standard / $130 extended for adults; youth free. USFS and E-Postcard: no fees but APH required for 17+.

Sources: drawing fees, as published on October 11, 2026.

2026 application deadlines

58 hunt types across 7 deadlines. Drawings run the next business day, and winners have 10 days to claim permits online.

DeadlineHuntsHunt types closing
Aug 1, 20265Alligator, Alligator Management, Guided Exotic Hunt Package, Private Lands Dove, Youth Only Alligator
Aug 15, 20265Archery Deer, Archery Mule Deer, Javelina, Private Land Pronghorn, Pronghorn
Sep 1, 20269NWR Archery Deer, NWR Upland Game, Private Land Deer Antlerless/Spike, Private Land Deer Either Sex, Youth Only Gun Deer Either Sex, E-Postcard Archery Deer, E-Postcard Squirrel, E-Postcard Teal, E-Postcard Youth Archery Deer
Sep 15, 202612Gun Deer Antlerless/Spike, Gun Deer Either Sex, Gun Deer Management, NWR General Deer, Youth Only Gun Deer Antlerless/Spike, Youth Only Gun Deer Management, Youth Only Javelina, E-Postcard Deer, E-Postcard Multi Species, E-Postcard Quail, E-Postcard Youth Deer, USFS Deer Permits (all four)
Oct 1, 20265Gun Mule Deer, NWR Deer Antlerless/Spike, NWR Youth Deer, E-Postcard Waterfowl, E-Postcard Waterfowl/Pheasant
Oct 15, 20265Exotic, Private Land Quail, NWR Archery Exotic, NWR Exotic, NWR Muzzleloader Deer
Nov 1, 202617Feral Hog, Guided Gemsbok Hunt Package, Guided Scimitar Oryx Hunt Package, Private Land Feral Hog, NWR Alligator, NWR Feral Hog, NWR Spring Turkey, Spring Turkey, Youth Only Exotic, Youth Only Feral Hog, Youth Only Turkey, E-Postcard Feral Hog, E-Postcard Feral Hog/Predator, E-Postcard Predator, E-Postcard Turkey, E-Postcard Youth/Adult Feral Hog, E-Postcard Youth/Adult Waterfowl

Sources: deadlines, as published on October 11, 2026.

Big Time Texas Hunts

10 premium packages for 2026-27.

  • Premium guided hunt packages drawn from entries.
  • Proceeds fund conservation and public hunting. Entries $9 online (plus one $5 admin fee per transaction) or $10 retail.
  • Unlimited entries.
  • No license needed to enter.
  • On sale May 15.
  • Enter by Oct. 15, 2026.
  • Texas Grand Slam (desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, desert mule deer)
  • Lone Star Javelina Hunt (new)
  • Ultimate Mule Deer Hunt (Panhandle)
  • Premium Buck Hunt (West Texas)
  • Nilgai Antelope Safari
  • Whitetail Bonanza (5 winners)
  • Exotic Safari (gemsbok or scimitar-horned oryx)
  • Gator Hunt (J.D. Murphree WMA)
  • Big Time Bird Hunt (dove, waterfowl, Rio Grande turkey)
  • Wild Hog Adventure

Sources: Big Time Texas Hunts; how to enter, as published on October 11, 2026.

E-Postcard, Forest Service and refuge hunts

E-Postcard hunts

17 hunt types on APH areas, including Deer, Feral Hog, Feral Hog/Predator, Furbearer/Predator and Multi Species. No application or permit fee, but hunters 17 and older need the APH permit.

USFS deer permits

Antlerless Deer Permit – Youth, Antlerless Deer Permit – Adult, Buck Deer Permit – Adult and Buck Deer Permit – Youth. No fee; APH required for 17 and older.

National wildlife refuge hunts

11 refuge hunt types: Alligator, Deer, Deer Antlerless/Spike, Exotic, Feral Hog, Spring Turkey, Archery Deer, Archery Exotic, Upland Game, Youth Deer, Muzzleloader Deer. NWR applicants must be at least 9.

Hunters with disabilities

TPWD lists accommodations for hunters with disabilities on public hunt sites (page linked from drawn hunt overview); no separate 2026-27 category found in the catalog.

Public areas with drawn or quota hunts

154 areas in the public land list are marked as holding drawn or quota hunts. Each links to its own page.

Sources: TPWD drawing; APH, as published on October 11, 2026.

Keep going on the Texas rules

Annual Public HuntingThe $48 APH permitLicenses and feesEvery fee listedYouth huntingYouth seasons, programsWildlife management areasTPWD WMAs

Drawn hunt questions

How do I apply for a Texas drawn hunt?

Online only, through the TPWD Public Hunt Drawing system.

When are the application deadlines?

On the 1st and 15th of each month, with the drawing the next business day. The 2026 schedule runs from Aug. 1 to Nov. 1.

How old do applicants have to be?

At least 8, or 9 for national wildlife refuge hunts. Applicants under 17 apply with a supervising adult 18 or older.

What does a drawn hunt cost?

Adults pay $3 to apply ($10 for Private Lands and Guided categories) and $80 for a standard permit or $130 for an extended one. Youth pay nothing.

How long do winners have to claim a permit?

Ten days, online.

Do I need a license to enter Big Time Texas Hunts?

No. Entries are $9 online, plus one $5 admin fee per transaction, or $10 at a retailer. Entries are unlimited and close Oct. 15, 2026.

What is an E-Postcard hunt?

A drawn hunt on APH areas with no application or permit fee. Hunters 17 and older need the $48 APH permit.

Is there a drawn hunt category for hunters with disabilities?

No separate category appears in the 2026-27 catalog. TPWD links an accommodations page from the drawing overview.

Must deer from a drawn hunt be checked?

Yes. The drawn hunt rules say deer must be taken directly to the check station.

One more check

Checked against TPWD on October 11, 2026. Game wardens enforce the Outdoor Annual text, not a summary of it.

Public hunting landAPH permitTPWD Outdoor Annual

Other photos on this page: VSmithUK (CC BY 2.0); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); Buck Valley Ranch (CC BY 2.0).