SAN ANTONIO, Texas -
For 18 years, the Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA), a partnership of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), has been the leader in recognizing the contributions that landowners, land managers and responsible hunters make to managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat on Texas’ private lands.
The purpose of the Texas Big Game Awards is to make known to all citizens of the state of Texas the important role ethical hunting and habitat management play in the lives of our young people and to the ecosystem over which we must be responsible stewards. Under this program awards are given to all “Scored Entries” that meet minimum regional requirements and there are no entry fees.
Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, or pronghorn antelope this season meeting the minimum net score B&C requirements for their respective Region, may be eligible to receive recognition in the “Scored Entry” category as well as the landowner for where the trophy was taken. Also new this year is the recognition only, of the hunters and landowners where desert bighorns are taken in Texas. Hunters of any age who harvest their first big game animal in Texas are eligible for the “First Big Game Harvest” category. Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope are eligible whether they harvest a buck or doe, regardless of score of the animal in this category.
And, any youth hunter (under 17 years of age when they purchase their hunting license) with a Special Resident Hunting License who harvests a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope is eligible for the “Youth Division” whether they harvest a buck or doe, regardless of score. The javelina is a new species added to the Youth Division and First Harvest Division this season.
NEW THIS YEAR – the TBGA deadline for entry will be February 15th. All entries must be postmarked no later than February 15. We also encourage hunters to mail their entries in early, as the TBGA will continue the “Early Entry Special” whereby those entries entered early during the months of October through January will be eligible for drawings to receive great prizes from TBGA Sponsors, including a Grand Prize of a Texas Lifetime Hunting License.
For those hunters who harvest Scored Entry qualifying animals and have their completed entry form in by the 30th of each month beginning in October through December, some great prizes like a Moultrie Game Cameras, Leupold Optics, or other great rewards will be offered in the monthly drawings. Entries must include a quality field photo of the hunter and their trophy and entry forms must be complete.
There will be one winner chosen for each of the three months. For the Early Entry Grand Prize, everyone who has their completed entry form in by January 30, including First Harvest and Youth Division entries, will be eligible for a Texas Lifetime Hunting License! Photos for this drawing are not required but encouraged. The license reward is proudly sponsored by Smith’s Abrasives and Hunter’s Specialties.
The TBGA website for this season will also include the NEW $20,000 College Scholarship Program sponsored by Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores. New this year, the scholarship program will offer eight $1,500 regional scholarships and one $3,000 scholarship to the top applicant. Scholarship applications will be available in December and due by March 1, 2009.
All program information, program history, entry rules and minimum scores are also featured on the website. You can also find a local scorer in your area for official entry forms, or download the First Harvest/Youth Division forms on-line, as no scorer signature is required for those entries. The TBGA website will also feature photos of entries that are entered this season. Last season over 700 photos were mailed in. You can check out links to great TBGA Sponsors too.
For more information on the Texas Big Game Awards, entry information, or for a local certified TBGA scorer, please visit our website at www.TexasBigGameAwards.com or call (800) 839-9453, ext. 114 for more information.
The Texas Big Game Awards is proudly sponsored by:
Statewide Sponsors:
Hixon Land and Cattle Company, Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores, and Budweiser.
Texas Regional Sponsors:
Remington Arms, Leupold and Stevens, Gerber Legendary Blades, Thompson Center Arms, C. Young and Company, Plano Moldings, Mossy Oak Brand Camo, Tecomate Wildlife Systems, Smith’s Abrasives, Hunter’s Specialties, Moultrie Feeders, ThermaCell, Wildgame Innovations, Bass Pro Shops, Under Armour, Nunley Brothers, BogGear, Cocoon ATV Products, Game Guard, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Cabela's, Drury Outdoors, Wildgame Innovations, and Record Rack Premium Game Feeds.
www.TexasBigGameAwards.com
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