San Antonio – 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.

All entries for the 2008-2009 Texas Big Game Awards have been submitted, and over 1,500 hunters, as well as over 500 landowners and ranches, will be recognized across Texas at this year’s Sportsman’s Celebrations. The top 15 big game animals taken this past season will be on display and recognized during the 2009 Statewide TBGA Sportsman’s Celebration held in conjunction with TWA’s 24th Annual Convention, June 26-27, 2009. The top 15 include the top three each in the following species and categories: typical whitetail, non-typical whitetail, typical mule deer, non-typical mule deer, and pronghorn antelope. This year’s statewide awards ceremony (June 27th, 12pm-2pm) will be held in San Antonio at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa.

Activities at the event include; a display and awards for the top 15 big game animals for the 2008 - 2009 season; and a keynote address by Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus. Also being awarded will be the top scholarship recipients of the Carter’s Country TBGA College Scholarship Program. Those scholarship recipients include: Joseph Jones of Pattison and Joshua Cross of Alpine, each receiving a $3,000 college scholarship for the next school year.

In addition, seven hunters will be awarded the coveted Texas Slam Award, given to hunters who harvest all three TBGA qualifying animals in the same season meeting the minimum scoring requirements, and the all-time top five hall of fame awards will be presented.

All-Time Awards:

Danny Young of Seagraves took the new number four all-time non-typical mule deer from Gaines County, net scoring 219 3/8 B&C. In fact, all three top non-typical mule deer came from Gaines County this past season as Gaines County was opened to mule deer hunting for the first time.

Tina Buford of Harlingen took the number one pronghorn in Texas, as well as the number two pronghorn antelope of all-time, net scoring 87 7/8 B&C. Also added to the top five was Robert Anderson of Rockwall, with his Hudspeth County pronghorn with net-scoring 87 2/8 B&C. It will rank number four all-time.

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, 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, Texas Hunt Co, Bog Gear, Otis Technologies, Cocoon ATV Products, Game Guard, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, 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/.