Hunters awarded at Big Game Banquet

By CAROLYN ROST | South Central Texas Edition

Chris Savage, 14, of Bay City poses for the camera while holding the 10-point buck he harvested in Matagorda County, during the recent Texas Big Game Awards.  --Staff photo by Rost

Sept. 22, 2005 - Hunters who harvested their first deer, young hunters, and seasoned sportsmen and sportswomen who bagged a trophy buck during the 2004-2005 hunting season were recognized at the recent Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA) banquet in El Campo.

The Coastal Prairies (Region 7) Hunters Celebration is one of eight TBGA regional banquets held throughout the year. Other regions include: Region 1 - Trans Pecos; 2 - Panhandle; 3 - Cross Timbers; 4 - Edwards Plateau; 5 - Post Oak Savannah; 6 - Pineywoods; 8 - South Texas.

The TBGA was developed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) to promote awareness about wildlife management and the role that hunting plays in habitat conservation.

Connor Martin, 12, of Katy is all smiles as he shows his certificate from the Texas Big Game Awards. Conner was recognized for successfully harvesting his first deer, a doe, in Weimar. --Staff photo by Rost

David Brimager, TWA assistant vice president of operations, stated TBGA is “a free program. It was designed to be free and was designed to be a recognition program recognizing hunters and landowners, first time hunters and youth hunters who harvest either a white-tailed deer, a mule deer or pronghorn antelope in the state of Texas.”

The promotion and encouragement of sound habitat and wildlife management is the goal of TBGA. Through its effort to promote big game hunting in Texas, the program recognizes:

1. The quality of big game animals in Texas;

2. The hunters who harvest these animals;

3. The land managers who produce these animals;

4. The importance of our hunting heritage; and

5. The achievements of young and new hunters.

Celebrating its 15th year this hunting season, Brimager said the TBGA is going strong. “We’ve grown expeditiously over the past five to seven years in sponsorships and partnerships with different organizations.”

Over 300 people attended the Coastal Prairies banquet on Aug. 27, and besides the recognitions, attendees gained information from TWA, TPWD, and Texas Brigades members, plus viewed habitat and wildlife internative educational displays.

Attendees also served as judges for the association’s third annual wildlife photography contest. Prior to announcing the winners, Amanda Hurst, Region 7 chairperson, encouraged hunters to take as many pictures as possible and submit them in next year’s contest.

Kody Kubala won the photography contest’s “Humorous” division. The “Wildlife” category was won by Walter Dixon, and Mike Fishbeck clenched the title in the “Landscape/Scenery” division.

Another contest targeted youth. Youngsters, up to age 12, were provided paper, pencils and crayons to draw a wildlife scene. This was also the third year of holding the contest and the kids did an outstanding job, said Hurst.

The top art winners were Cami Goldman in the “Under 5” division, Waylon Gonzales was awarded honorable mention. In the division for 5- to 8-year-olds, Hunter Woytek was awarded first place and Justin Dixon received honorable mention. Ages 9 to 12 competed also, but Stephanie Trejo came out the winner. Lance Woytek received honorable mention.

During the event’s awards ceremony, all program entrants received a TBGA certificate. The top three awardees for the scored entries also received an engraved plaque.

Entries into all categories is open to wild-raised, native-bred, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and pronghorn that have not been released, and that were lawfully harvested in Texas during the current year’s hunting season.

All scoring is based on the Boone & Crockett Club scoring system. “We go by net green Boone & Crockett score,” said Brimager. 

Net green is what the antler scores before the 60 day drying period that is required for the Boone & Crockett recordbook.

At the Coastal Prairies banquet, Connor Martin, 12, of Katy, received a certificate for harvesting his first deer. His big smile conveyed his excitement when he accepted the certificate. When asked about Connor’s first harvest (a doe), his dad, Robert, said his son had a great time and it was a really good experience for him.

Chris Savage, 14, of Bay City received a certificate for his entry in the Typical category with a gross score of 137 4/8 and net score of 134 1/8. Savage took his 10-point buck with a rifle at 87 yards. Hunting since the age of 7, Chris said he plans to continue in the sport. Being outdoors with his dad and grandpa is fun, according to the young hunter.

Whatever the reason - fun, enjoyment of the outdoors, drill of the hunt - hunting will remain a lasting heritage with the help of the TBGA.

(For more information about the TBGA, visit their website at www.texasbiggameawards.com or contact the TWA at 800-839-9453, ext. 114.)