I wasn't involved directly in the process, but saw the folks that were on a daily basis. It is a lot more involved than pushing a button a couple of minutes after the deadline. Here are at least a couple of things that have to be done/checked:
1. Check for multiple applications or being in multiple parties.
2. Do an accounting for all of the application fees.
And, after having a couple of computer issues over the years, they run a couple of check draws to make sure their isn't a glitch where they have to re-draw like they did at least once in the past.
And, unfortunately, they can't really start months earlier because the WMA hunts have to go through the season setting process which really can't start before the conclusion of the previous season for data reasons. That normally isn't completed until late May/early June.
Just rest assured after seeing the stressed look for the quota folks doing the drawing that they aren't sitting around twiddling their thumbs just to make folks wait. They want it done and off of their backs even worse than the hunters do.