The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is providing fee disclosure for their controlled big game hunts which happen on all National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) located in Texas. Through this notice, the USFWS will disclose all fees incurred by the hunters when they apply to the State.
The USFWS utilize Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) online only public hunt draw system. This partnership with TPWD provides technical expertise and special capabilities to improve customer service, streamline operations, and reduce government costs for administering hunting on public lands. The TPWD provides drawn public hunts through an online only drawing system that offers loyalty points, secondary draws, secure online ordering, multiple purchases, online payment, and online order confirmation. Through this system, TPWD brings manual paper processes online, including public hunt applications and public hunt permits. The TPWD is focused on rapidly delivering effective solutions to reduce paperwork, increase efficiency, expand service availability, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Under this process, the application fee will be $3.00 for each adult hunter ages 17 or older. After a lottery drawing, selected hunters will be notified by e-mail and will then purchase their permit for $80.00 for three-day archery white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and feral hog hunts or 130.00 for four plus days hunt of same species.
All TPWD managed hunt areas, U.S. Forest Service, and several USFWS lands in Texas are currently using this system with great success. The refuge hunt applicants will be able to browse the drawn hunt catalog by refuge, hunt category, and location using interactive maps.
If you have more questions please write to: Texas Coastal Refuge Supervisor at Jennifer_owenwhite@fws.gov, or PO Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103.
