AUSTIN–The Texas Big Game Awards program is announcing rule changes designed to better reflect the objectives of this 27 year partnership between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association — to recognize the contributions hunters and landowners make in managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat in Texas.

Effective with the 2017-18 hunting seasons, no scored entries will be accepted from release sites for five years following the last release date. This will affect all properties with pen-raised, Trap/Transport/Transplant, and/or Deer Management Permit deer released after March 1, 2017. Also new for this season is the addition of javelina to the Texas Slam award category. And finally, hunters will now be limited to one Texas Slam award per harvest means (rifle and archery only) during their lifetime.

Under the Texas Big Game Awards program, awards are given to all scored entries that meet minimum regional requirements, and there are no entry fees. Deadline to enter is a postmark date of March 1, 2018. Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, javelina, or desert bighorn sheep this season meeting the minimum Boone and Crockett net score requirements for their respective region may be eligible to receive recognition in the Scored Entry category, as well as the landowner of the property from which the trophy was taken.

Hunters of any age who harvest their first big game animal in Texas are eligible for the First Big Game Harvest category. Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope are eligible whether they harvest a buck or doe, regardless of the score of the animal in this category.

Any youth hunter (under 17 years of age when they purchase their hunting license) with a Special Resident Hunting License who harvests a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope is eligible for the Youth Division whether they take a buck or doe and regardless of score.

For more information on the Texas Big Game Awards, certified scorers list, entry rules and minimum scores are also featured on the TBGA website at www.TexasBigGameAwards.org.