Big Boys

Big Boys Subhead TBGA recognition banquets give credit where credit is due Matt Williams Tue, 06/18/2024 - 22:47 Image

• Reili Brewer’s remarkable 29 pointer taken in from Bowie County nets 239 2/8 B&C and ranks as the top non-typical statewide reported to TBGA last season. Brewer, 14, earned an invitation to the TWA’s statewide banquet in San Antonio. The massive whitetail will also be on display at TBGA’s regional banquet on July 27 in College Station. (Courtesy Photo)
• Scoring 190 7/8 net, Michael Edge’s Panola County 18 pointer was the No. 2 non-typical archery buck reported statewide to TBGA last season. Edge, who arrowed the free range deer on 162 acres, says he plans to make the trip to the upcoming TBGA Hunting Heritage banquet on July 27 in College Station. (Courtesy Photo)

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Outdoors Writer

Mark those calendars whitetail junkies. The folks with the Texas Wildlife Association are throwing a series of parties over the next couple of months to salute some of the top Texas bucks and other big game animals entered in the Texas Big Game Awards Program last hunting season. Everyone is invited to join in the celebration.

Established in 1991, TBGA is a non-profit program run jointly by the TWA and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The program provides a recognition outlet for hunters who harvest quality big game animals and the land managers responsible for producing them, while stressing the importance of our hunting heritage, and the achievements of young and first-time hunters. It’s a really cool deal.

The TBGA format is built around categories for wild-raised white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and javelina. There are white-tailed deer categories for free ranging and high fence animals, along with divisions for first harvest, youth and scored. Animals that were born or bred in captivity and subsequently released into the wild are not eligible for entry.

The program is free to enter. To enter an animal as a “scored entry,” scoring must be performed by a certified TBGA scorer or an official Boone and Crockett Club scorer. Scored entries must meet minimum scores for the region of harvest. All animals are measured using the B&C scoring system, the most widely accepted scoring method for North American big game animals.

Longtime TBGA executive director David Brimager says there were about 1,000 hunter submitted entries to the program ahead of the March 1 deadline. Brimager says the 2023-24 season total is up about 30 percent from the previous season, but well below the all-time high of 2,062 entries turned in during 2003.

It’s worth noting that Brimager recently announced he retiring from his post at TWA after 25 years.

“I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s time to move on,” Brimager said. “I’ll still be involved to a degree, but I’ll be pursuing other things.”

Brimager said he’s leaving the program in good hands with Kristin Parma. Parma has been with TWA for nine years and says she is stoked about the opportunity to take over as the TBGA Hunting Heritage Program coordinator. Planning and coordinating TBGA’s annual awards banquets comes with the turf.

“We’ll miss DB — he’s a wealth of knowledge,” Parma said. “But I’m excited to get the opportunity to plan these upcoming hunting heritage events. We doing some new things this year and I really think the hunters are going to like it.”

Summer Awards Banquets

Each summer, qualifying hunters are invited to attend a series of TBGA Hunting Heritage banquets held around the state, where they are presented awards certificates in recognition of their accomplishments. Anyone who entered a deer or other big game animal in TBGA ahead of March 1 deadline has an open invitation to attend.

Hunters are encouraged to bring their trophy mounts for display. Mounts are always secured behind protective barriers for viewing, each accompanied by a identification card listing the hunter’s name, the county/property of harvest and the B&C net score.

Three of the annual gatherings are divided by region of harvest, but Parma pointed out that hunters are welcome to attend any of the events. The gatherings are free to hunters who entered qualifying animals, while the general public is charged a fee.

I’ve attended several of the TBGA events over the years. The banquets are always casual with an atmosphere that feels sort of like a really nice hunting camp. It’s a real treat seeing some of the state’s top big game animals under the same roof and listening to all the good storytelling behind them.

Parma says three regional gatherings are scheduled for July and August. Additionally, there is a state banquet that will be held in conjunction with the TWA’s annual convention set for July 13 at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio. Only the three highest scoring animals in each category are recognized at the state banquet.

As earlier mentioned, Parma is incorporating some new twists into the Hunting Heritage banquet format this year, including appetizers and a cash bar along with traditional raffles. The highlight is an hourlong film tour showcasing some conservation-related outreaches, including TWA’s Adult Learn to Hunt and Texas Youth Hunting programs.

Additionally, there will be a compelling video documentary that chronicles Oklahoma hunter Brandon Adams’ season-long pursuit of the “Texas Slam” award. The award is given to any hunter who, in one season, harvests a TBGA qualifying white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and javelina. It’s a challenging task that only a few have accomplished.

Fittingly, Adams’ documentary is titled ‘Texas Slammed.’ “Brandon’s video really showcases Texas hunting and documents the highs and lows of the sport,” Parma said. “We are really excited for people to see it.”

TBGA’s regional banquet schedule is as follows. For a full schedule of times and events along with a link to purchase tickets online, see texasbiggameawards. org/awards-banquets.

Regions: Post Oak Savannah (Region 5), Pineywoods (Region 6) and Coastal Prairies (Region 7 Date: July 27 Location: Icehouse on Main, Bryan/College Station Regions: Edwards Plateau (Region 4) and South Texas (Region 8) Date: August 10 Location: Natural Bridge Caverns, San Antonio Regions: Trans-Pecos (Region 1), Panhandle (Region 2) and Cross Timbers (Region 3) Date: August 17 Location: Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth State Banquet Date: July 13, 2024 – San Antonio, TX Location: JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio