The NWR turkey hunts

[PickettSFHunter]

Does anyone know if I can put multiple Hunt dates on the same postcard? Wanting to head out to West TN if I can get drawn for one of these hunts. I see they go to the same place in Union City so didn't know if I needed to do multiple post cards or what. Not sure how it works either if you drew hunts at the same dates? Or maybe there's just not much chance of drawing? Any insight appreciated, thanks.


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[UpperTully]

IMHO, I think the chances of being drawn on these hunts are a little tougher since TWRA has our West Tenn WMA's opening 2 weeks late. :roll: :roll:

I've been drawn several times and never could hunt because the refuge would be completely under water. If you do get drawn, snake boots are a must.

This is from the Chickasaw NWR permit

Quota Hunt Application Procedures
To apply for a quota hunt permit, type or plainly print your
name, address, and phone number w/ area code on the
front of a U.S. Postal Service Postcard. Unofficial postcards
will be discarded prior to drawing. Send postcard in an
envelope addressed to the Refuge Manager at Chickasaw
NWR, 4343 Highway 157, Union City, TN 38261. Postcards
for turkey hunts must be postmarked during January.
A total of up to four hunters may apply on the same
postcard: one hunter's information on the front of the
postcard and up to three additional hunter's information on
the back. Indicate hunt preference (1st [Youth Hunt], 2nd,
3rd, or 4th) on the Turkey application. Submission of more
than one postcard, except for the adult supervisor for the
youth hunt, will result in disqualification of the applicant(s).

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Submission of one post card... so one for all the NWR's or one per NWR? May just need to call.


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[Andy S.]

I submit one postcard per NWR in this exact format.

Remember that spring time flooding could impact your hunt, but that is a chance we all take when applying and paying for permit if drawn. Good luck!

 

[UpperTully]

^ What Andy said.

 

[Andy S.]

If you draw different NWRs for same dates, you can send in money and get both permits, hunt one, both or neither. If you get drawn and have a change of heart, don't send in any money and you don't have to hunt at all. There's a lot of flexibility with these NWR quota hunts.

 

[SKFOOTER]

I drew the 3rd hunt at Chickasaw NWR and the 4th hunt at Lower Hatchie NWR.

 

[Andy S.]

^^^^ Congrats! You better stock up on the mosquito dope! :)

 

[SKFOOTER]

Thanks Andy. And hope the Big Muddy doesn't flood out the refuge. Let me know if you get drawn.

 

[Andy S.]

Let me know if you get drawn.

Will do!

And hope the Big Muddy doesn't flood out the refuge.

You and I both.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I haven't heard back yet.


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[SKFOOTER]

The successful draw cards were mailed Friday and I received mine today. The unsuccessful draw postcards were mailed today.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I'm far enough away maybe it'll make it today lol


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[UpperTully]

I got my "You were selected" card for Chickasaw this morning, still waiting the results for Lower Hatchie.

 

[SKFOOTER]

I got my "You were selected" card for Chickasaw this morning, still waiting the results for Lower Hatchie.

Which hunt?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I drew Chickasaw 4th hunt, not sure if that's good or what.


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[Spurhunter]

Got drawn for the last hunt at Chickasaw and Lower Hatchie. Wish it was different weekends but I'll be off all 4 days so it could work out well.

 

[Andy S.]

I drew 4th hunt at Chickasaw and 1st hunt at Reelfoot (Grassy). Here is the best part; I am 99% sure I did NOT apply for 4th hunt at Chickasaw due to the dates conflicting with other plans I had.

I will call them in the coming days and inquire. I will take a pic of my postcards from this point forward.

 

[Spurhunter]

I am 99% sure I did NOT apply for 4th hunt at Chickasaw due to the dates conflicting with other plans I had.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought when you applied you were applying for all the hunts. You can obviously state a preference, but you are all in. I always state a preference but only one hunt.


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[Andy S.]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought when you applied you were applying for all the hunts.

You may be correct, but I have called them a couple of times, and as recent as last month, to get clarification on that, but yet to get in touch with anyone that sounded like they had any confidence in answering my question. Needless to say, I am still not sure on how the draw works for sure.

I would rather NOT get drawn for a weekend I know I will not be there, and afford another hunter that opportunity, than get drawn, throw my notice in the garbage, and no one gets to hunt in that slot. Make sense?

 

[Spurhunter]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought when you applied you were applying for all the hunts.

You may be correct, but I have called them a couple of times, and as recent as last month, to get clarification on that, but yet to get in touch with anyone that sounded like they had any confidence in answering my question. Needless to say, I am still not sure on how the draw works for sure.

I would rather NOT get drawn for a weekend I know I will not be there, and afford another hunter that opportunity, than get drawn, throw my notice in the garbage, and no one gets to hunt in that slot. Make sense?

Absolutely. I would hate to keep another hunter from getting drawn on a hunt I can't make. Let us know if you ever get a reliable answer.


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[Andy S.]

The brochure states this exact verbiage:

"Indicate hunt preference (1st [Youth Hunt], 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) on the Turkey application."

The way it is worded leads me to believe you can only choose one hunt, due to the word "or" being used.

 

[SKFOOTER]

I talked with someone at Reelfoot NWR and had it explained to me this way----You can pick each hunt date in your order of preference but you'll only be placed in your first choice if you're drawn and there are still openings available for that hunt. If one of the other hunts that you choose as your 2nd or 3rd choice does not fill up(which they normally do) and your 1st choice is not available when your name is drawn, then you will be placed in the draw for the hunts that did not fill up for another chance. Now, I realize that is as clear as mud but that is the way it was explained to me. I always thought that by picking 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices, once your name was drawn each hunt that you listed in preferential order would be checked for available openings until one was found available. I suggest calling Refuge Complex Manager Randy Cook at the Dyersburg Complex Office @ 731-287-0650 for clarification on exactly how the draw is managed.

 

[Andy S.]

Thanks Keith. I just talked with two of my buddies who were drawn for Chickasaw hunt dates that they intentionally did not apply for, due to them being in TX that weekend. Talk about a stupid azz way to run a quota draw..... :bash:

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I didn't think I applied for the 4th hunt but couldn't remember for sure.


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[Andy S.]

I drew Chickasaw 4th hunt, not sure if that's good or what.

I am not one to be negative, but my honest opinion is it's usually not that great of a hunt for several reasons:

1. Typically, the birds have been pressured, spooked, shot at and killed by then. Assuming the first hunts went on as planned and were not affected by flood waters.
2. The foliage and mosquitoes will be thicker than hair on a dogs azz.
3. Temps and moccasin activity are on the uptick by then, we are in the SW corner of the state. Weather more akin to MS than north central TN.
4. Later in the spring it gets, higher probability for a MS River flood to bust out of it's banks, impacting access, and possibly requiring a boat.

With all of that said, you could still go out there and kill a bird on the 4th hunt. I have hunted the last hunt one time, and SEVERAL of my buds have drawn the last hunt over the last decade, with very few kills and very little good to say about their experience.

Best of luck, and hit me up if you come this way as you will be an hour from my house tops.

 

[Andy S.]

I always thought that by picking 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices, once your name was drawn each hunt that you listed in preferential order would be checked for available openings until one was found available.

This is how it should be, and if there are no hunts left available based on your postcard order of preference, your card should be thrown in the garbage and you not awarded a hunt. It makes no sense to award hunt dates to applicants who intentionally did not put in for those dates because they knew ahead of time they would not be able to attend. That is asinine at best!

I am from the government and I am here to help ....... :)

 

[UpperTully]

I drew 4th hunt at Chickasaw and 1st hunt at Reelfoot (Grassy). Here is the best part; I am 99% sure I did NOT apply for 4th hunt at Chickasaw due to the dates conflicting with other plans I had.

I will call them in the coming days and inquire. I will take a pic of my postcards from this point forward.

I drew the same hunt for Chickasaw, I applied for the second hunt myself. One of my buddies that was in my group won't be able to hunt either, he'll be chasing Rio's that weekend. So that's another wasted spot.

I'm thinking I didn't draw the hunt I wanted and there wasn't enough applicants to fill all of the hunts, so the unsuccessful hunters were placed on later hunts.

I'll be there regardless, boat, snake boots, deet and thermacells in tow.

 

[UpperTully]

I am 99% sure I did NOT apply for 4th hunt at Chickasaw due to the dates conflicting with other plans I had.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought when you applied you were applying for all the hunts. You can obviously state a preference, but you are all in. I always state a preference but only one hunt.


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They USED to do it like that a few years ago.

 

[UpperTully]

I got my "You were selected" card for Chickasaw this morning, still waiting the results for Lower Hatchie.

Which hunt?

4th hunt.