Secondary Draw and Standby Permits

In an attempt to maximize hunting opportunity, secondary draw and standby permits may be offered to alternates.

Special Permit Categories

• Hunt positions are reserved for any drawn hunter having paid for or accepted their Special Permit
• It is possible for a hunt area to have both a Secondary Drawing and Standby Drawing.
• It is also possible for a hunt to not have either a Secondary Drawing or Standby Drawing.

Secondary Drawing

• After the initial drawing for a category is conducted and that permit fee due date has passed, unpaid/unaccepted permits may be offered to alternate winners through a second drawing.
• If you are not selected initially and a secondary drawing is scheduled your application status will read Not Selected — Pending Second Draw.
• If you are selected for a permit during the secondary draw, a selection notice will be emailed to you and a new permit fee due date will be set.
• Secondary hunters will be chosen from the same pool of applicants as the initial drawing. It will not be necessary to apply again.

Standby Permits

• Contact the hunt area a week before the hunt period for details about the standby drawing process and permit availability.
• If standby permits are available, a drawing will be conducted at the hunt area and prospective hunters are generally advised to be there by 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the hunt period to apply.
• There is no application fee to enter a standby drawing; however, successful adult hunters must pay the permit fee. Standby permit fees may be paid at the area using a credit card through the online TPWD Public Hunt System; or if available, payment may be made at a License Point of Sales machine.
• There are no fees for youth participants.
• Participation as a standby applicant/hunter will not affect your application status or loyalty points in the drawn hunt system.