Texas

Statewide Texas Big Game Award attendees enjoy a display of the top 15 big game animals from the 2008-2009 season

 

 

State presented awards at banquet June 27.

 

San Antonio –Fifteen hunters and landowners were honored on June 27 as part of the Statewide Texas Big Game Awards Banquet, held in conjunction with WildLife 2009, Texas Wildlife Association’s 24^th Annual Convention.  The event recognized the contributions that landowners and responsible hunters make to managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat on Texas’ private lands.

 

Eight hunters or landowners were also awarded the coveted Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA) Texas Slam Award, an award that recognizes hunters and landowners who produced or harvested all three TBGA qualifying species (mule deer, whitetail, and pronghorn antelope) that have met the minimum scoring requirements within the region.

 

 “These hunters and ranches are well deserving of this honor. All entries recognized at the 2008-2009 Texas Big Game Awards were selected from over 1,500 entries, and almost 1,000 scored entries were submitted,” explained Texas Wildlife Association Vice President of Hunting Heritage David Brimager. “Because of our 18 year partnership with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Texas Big Game Awards continues to be the leader in recognizing the important role ethical hunting and habitat management play in the lives of our young people.”

 

Joseph Jones of Pattison and Joshua Cross of Alpine were also recognized as the recipients of the Carter’s County TBGA College Scholarship. Jones and Cross each received a $3,000 college scholarship for the next school year.

 

The afternoon also included a display of the top 15 big game animals taken this past season, a keynote address by Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus and recognition of the all-time top hall of fame awards; the top three TBGA state ranked entries, in each category (typical and non-typical white-tailed deer, typical and non-typical mule deer, and pronghorn antelope).

 

Texas Slam Award Recipients: 

·         Keith R. Eason- Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Oldham County; McBride Ranch of Burnet County; Double U Cattle Co of Hudspeth County

·         Milton Harrell-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Burton’s Hunting Service of Brewster and Kimble Counties

·         Rick Meritt-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: McGuire Ranch of Gaines County; Buxton Ranch of Bosque County; Hudspeth County

·         Justin Trail-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Gaines, Bosque and Hudspeth County

·         Robert Williams, Jr.-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Sierra Blanca Ranch of Hudspeth County; RW Trophy Ranch of Hunt County

·         Robert Williams Sr.-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Sierra Blanca Ranch of Hudspeth County; RW Trophy Ranch of Hunt County

·         Donald Starks- Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Hudspeth County, and Duncan Ranch of Lampasas County

·         Carson Sims-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Hudspeth and Atascosa County

 

Top State Recipients, Category and Rank:

Non-Typical Mule Deer:

Danny Young in Gaines County (Best in Texas); Jason Stine in Gaines County (Second Best in Texas); James M. Moore and Wade Smith Farm in Gaines County (Third Best in Texas)

 

Typical Mule Deer:

Gary H. Shores in Oldham County (Best in Texas); Michael C. Smith and Roberts Ranch in Brewster County (Second Best in Texas); John Edwards in Bailey County (Third Best in Texas)

 

Pronghorn Antelope:

Tina Y. Buford in Hudspeth County (Best in Texas); Robert M. Anderson and Double U Cattle Co. in Hudspeth County (Second Best in Texas); Tamara Trail in Hudspeth County (Third Best in Texas)

 

Non-Typical Whitetail:

Mike Murski and Flint Creek Ranch in Bosque County (Best in Texas); William Shackelford and Lost Creek Ranch in Frio County (Second Best in Texas); Christopher Dwyer and RSP Ranch in Bosque County (Third Best in Texas) 

 

Typical Whitetail:

Terry Hall and King Ranch in Kleberg County (Best in Texas); Bart Umphrey and Sand Mountain Ranch in Zavala County (Second Best in Texas); Steve Wright and W-5 Ranch in Kimble County (Third Best in Texas)

 

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 include: Remington Arms, Leupold and Stevens, Gerber Legendary Blades, Plano Moldings, Thompson Center Arms, C. Young and Company, Mossy Oak Brand Camo, Tecomate Wildlife Systems, Smith’s Abrasives, Hunter’s Specialties, Moultrie Feeders, ThermaCell, Wildgame Innovations, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Texas Hunt Co., Drury Outdoors, Wild Game Innovations, Bog Gear, Cocoon ATV Products, Game Guard, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Otis Technologies, and Record Rack Premium Game Feeds.

 

Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA), a partnership of Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), continues to be a 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. 

 

For additional information on attending the state convention or the Texas Big Game Awards, contact David Brimager at dbrimager@texas-wildlife.org, (800) 839-9453, ext. 114 or visit the Texas Big Game Awards website at http://www.texasbiggameawards.com/.