Texas -

The Young Life Austin West Deer Tournament is back and registration is open now for the 2009 - 2010 season.  Remember, you must register before you hunt.  We've made some exciting changes, so visit the website today and register!

Attention wingshooters and anglers: there are now bird and fish categories in our contest, check them out today!

Stay Tuned For Details on the Skeet Contest and Sportsman's Night Event

Many contestants last year wanted more shotgun time but also wanted to spend more time with their families at the event.  So this year, we will host a special separate skeet contest and BBQ a week or two before the family event.  You won't want to miss this! Details will be sent out in the weeks and months to come, but earlybird registration is available on the website now.

Details for the Sportsman's Night event will be announced shortly.  This year's event will feature hunting & fishing themed games with prizes for all ages and skill levels.  Check www.deertournament.com for a recap of last year's event and updates.

Prizes for the 2nd Annual Will Include New Bows, Rifles, Shotguns, Hunting Trips and More!

We've made some exciting changes to the prize format.  In addition to commemorative items for all winners, this year our 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category will receive prize tickets, and will designate those tickets to drawings for prizes they want to win.   

        1st Place in any category: 2nd Annual Jacket (personalized) + 50 tickets 
        2nd place in any category: 2nd Annual Vest + 25 tickets
        3rd place in any category: 2nd Annual Hat + 10 prize tickets

Prize drawings will be held at the Sportsman's Night event - but winners need not be present to win and may assign tickets in advance for entry into specific prize drawings. 

Remember, You MUST Register Before You Hunt - Unless You  Are Competing for Biggest Regret!

Questions can be sent to info@deertournament.com. 
 

CATEGORIES

All Whitetail Deer Categories Are Split by North and South Zones (see rules below for zone information).  Unless Specified Otherwise, All Game Must Be Harvested in Texas to Be Eligible.

Biggest Overall Whitetail Buck: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring buck harvested by any lawful means on any property. 

Biggest Texas Mule Deer Buck: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring mule deer buck harvested by any lawful means on any property (in Texas).

Biggest Out-of-State Whitetail Buck: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring whitetail buck harvested by any lawful means on any property outside of Texas (including Mexico).  All other deer categories are for Texas deer only.

Biggest Whitetail 8 Point (Gun and Bow Separately): The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring 8 point buck harvested on any property - all other category entries are automatically eligible to win in this category. 

Heaviest "Hunted" Hog (Gun, Bow and Knife/Spear Separately): The winning entry in this category is the heaviest wild hog harvested on any property (gross weight).  Please note, trapped hogs are not eligible as entries in this category.

Heaviest "Trapped" Hog: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest wild hog harvested by means of lawful trapping (gross weight).

Heaviest Coyote: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest coyote (gross weight) harvested by any lawful means on any property.

Heaviest Bobcat: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest bobcat (gross weight) harvested by any lawful means on any property.

Heaviest Javelina: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest javelina (gross weight) harvested by any lawful means on any property.

Heaviest Whitetail Doe (Gun and Bow Separately): The winning entry in this category is the heaviest whitetail doe harvested on any property (net weight - after field dressing). 

Biggest Whitetail Buck Traditional: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring buck harvested on any property using only traditional bowhunting equipment (e.g., longbow or recurve). 

Best Whitetal Wildlife Photo - Live Deer: The winning entry in this category is the best photograph of a live whitetail deer taken with any camera/film and on any property (scoring done by a 3 judge panel).

Best Non-Deer Wildlife Photo: The winning entry in this category is the best photograph of any animal other than a whitetail deer taken with any camera/film and on any property (scoring done by a 3 judge panel). 

Best Trail Cam Photo: The winning entry in this category is the best photograph taken with an automated trail camera while the operator was not present (scoring done by a 3 judge panel).

Biggest Whitetail Buck LF (Gun and Bow Separately): The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring buck harvested on a low fenced property.

Biggest Whitetail Buck HF (Gun and Bow Separately): The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring buck harvested on a high fenced property. 

Biggest Whitetail Buck Youth (Gun and Bow Separately): The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring buck harvested by a youth hunter age 17 and under. 

Biggest Whitetail Doe Youth (Gun and Bow Separately): The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring buck harvested by a youth hunter age 17 and under. 

Heaviest Dove (separate for mourning and whitewing): The winning entry in this category is the heaviest dove by gross weight (feathers and all).

Heaviest Duck: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest duck by gross weight (feathers and all).

Heaviest Goose: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest goose by gross weight (feathers and all).

Heaviest Quail: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest quail by gross weight (feathers and all).

Heaviest Wild Catfish: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest wild catfish by gross weight.

Heaviest Large Mouth Bass: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest large mouth bass by gross weight.

Heaviest Small Mouth Bass: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest small mouth bass by gross weight.

Heaviest Wild Rattlesnake: The winning entry in this category is the heaviest wild rattlesnake by gross weight.

Biggest Blackbuck Antelope: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring blackbuck antelope taken by any lawful means on any property.

Biggest Barbado Ram: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring barbado ram taken by any lawful means on any property.

Biggest Axis Buck: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring axis buck taken by any lawful means on any property.

Biggest Red Stag: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring red stag taken by any lawful means on any property.

Biggest Exotic (other): Please contact us regarding other exotics taken in Texas - if you registered before your hunt we will add categories for additional species of game.

Biggest Regret: The winning entry in this category is the highest scoring deer that would've won a contest category if the hunter had registered before harvesting the animal.  The prize for this category is a framed picture of the hunter and would be trophy animal, with a caption reading: "If only I had registered at www.deertournament.com."

TOURNAMENT RULES & SPECIFICS

1.  All antler or horn scorable entries must be submitted with an affidavit or other documentation by a taxidermist or certified measurer, and must include a photo of the hunter with game.  Scoring is in gross inches, without deductions by B&C guidelines.  Winners are subject to score and tag/license verification. 

2.  Entries for weight categories should include some proof of weight (e.g., photo of harvested animal on scale, written documentation of weight, etc), and also must include a photo of the hunter with game. 

3.  Wildlife photo submissions on printed media must be at a minimum 8" x 10" or if digital must be of sufficient resolution to be judged adequately when printed as an 8" x 10"

4.  Wildlife photography categories will be judged subjectively by a panel of judges, none of whom will participate in the contest.  Additionally, all photos may be displayed both on this website as well as during the Sportsman's Night event.

5.  South Zone for general deer categories is any of the 30 counties listed by Texas Parks & Wildlife as "South Texas."  All other counties are North Zone.   Visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/season/deer/south/ for details.

6.  Hunters may only submit entries harvested after registering.  Entry form(s), along with above required documentation, must arrive no later than February 1, 2010, and be sent to: Young Life Austin West Deer Tournament, 925 Westbank Drive # 400, Austin, TX 78746.  You may also submit documentation and photos via email to info@deertournament.com and fax to 512 263 8665.

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