The information as submitted by the Hunter to Trophy Game Records of the World (TGR) on the Big Buck Competition Score Sheet is the sole responsibility of the Hunter and the TGR Tropaeologist (scorer). Trophy Game Records of the World is not responsible for incorrect information as submitted on the score sheet.

The Trophy Game Records’ Big Buck Competition has three (3) main divisions, Open Division, High Fence Division and Low Fence Division, for adults and youth. Also included in the contest are the divisions of Out-Of-State Whitetail, Hill Country Whitetail, Texas Mule Deer, Wild Turkey, and the Jacket Buck Categories (jacket bucks only in the Open Division, High Fence Division and Low Fence Division). There are a total of one hundred sixty-five (165) potential categories that can be won in this contest. Listed below are those division definitions with each category definition.
 
Open Division
Includes all bucks that have been in a controlled breeding program (i.e., pen raised and requiring permits by mandate of Texas Parks & Wildlife) which are then released and harvested. All bucks that have an identifiable tag hole or State ID tattoo in their ear, will be placed into this division. Any bucks that are presented at a scoring station without the attached cape to the head or a buck that is presented with the antlers only (skull cap with antlers or skull and antlers) will automatically be placed into the Open Division. (See Division Categories under item “I”) No Big 6, Big 7, or Big Spike for this category.
 
High Fence Division
Includes all bucks/does that were harvested behind high fence/deer proof fencing that COMPLETELY surrounds the perimeters of the acreage. No “pen released”, tagged or tattooed deer will be allowed into this category. (See Division Categories under item “I”).
 
Low Fence Division 
Includes all bucks/does that were harvested behind low fence. This acreage must not have high fence or deer proof fencing that COMPLETELY surrounds the perimeter. No “pen released”, tagged or tattooed 11 deer will be allowed into this category. (See Division Categories under item “I”)
 
Out-of-State Division
Any Whitetail buck harvested outside of the State of Texas, excluding Canada. There are no jacket bucks for this division. This division is for Out-of-State Whitetail bucks only, Hog/Turkey/Mule Deer are not eligible for this division.
 
Out-of-State Categories
1. Men’s 1st Place
2. Women’s 1st Place
3. Youth 1st Place
4. Archery/Crossbow Method of Collection
5. Modern Arms/Handgun Method of Collection
6. Most Points
7. Widest Outside Spread 
 
Wild Turkey Division
These categories will be restricted to the Texas fall hunting season only. In no event will turkeys harvested during the spring season be allowed entry into the contest. Trophy Game Records’ method of scoring wild turkeys will determine the winner; combined total of length of left & right spur and length(s) of beard(s).
 
Wild Turkey Categories
1. Adult Wild Turkey
2. Youth Wild Turkey
 
Hill Country Division
To be eligible for the Hill Country Whitetail division, the hunter/huntress must be a PERMANENT resident of Kerr County or one of its contiguous counties (Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kimble or Real) AND the deer must be harvested behind a low fence.
 
Hill Country Categories
1. Men’s Division
2. Women’s Division
3. Youth Division
 
Texas Mule Deer Division
All mule deer will compete in the below categories regardless of method of collection. Only mule deer harvested in the State of Texas will be eligible for submission to the contest.
 
Texas Mule Deer Categories
1. Adult Division
2. Youth Division
 
Jacket Buck Division
There are a total of 75 (25 in each Division) potential award winning Jacket Bucks that are available with the score being the determining factor for placement. Therefore, bucks to be considered as jacket bucks that are in the Open Division must score 508.0+ cm (200.0”+), High Fence Division must score 457.2+ cm (180.0”+), and Low Fence Division must score either 368.3+ cm (145.0”+ Archery/Crossbow) or 406.4+ cm (160.0”+ for all other Methods of Collection). Once the main categories (in each division) are filled, the next top scoring 25 whitetail bucks (in each division, Open, High Fence and Low Fence regardless of method of collection) that fall into the above scoring criteria will be awarded a position in the Jacket Buck Division.

Categories with Definitions for Open Division, High Fence Division and Low Fence Division
1. Men’s Diamond Buck – the highest ranking buck taken by an adult male.
2. Women’s Diamond Buck – the highest ranking buck taken by an adult female.
3. Youth Diamond Buck – the highest ranking buck taken by a youth (male or female).
4. Men’s 1st Place – the 2nd highest ranking buck taken by an adult male.
5. Women’s 1st Place – the 2nd highest ranking buck taken by an adult female.
6. Youth 1st Place – the 2nd highest ranking buck taken by a youth (male or female).
7. Adult Archery Method of Collection – highest ranking buck harvested with a bow. Entries can be harvested during the special archery season or during the regular whitetail season.
8. Adult Crossbow Method of Collection – highest ranking buck harvested with a crossbow. Entries can be harvested during the special archery season or during the regular whitetail season.
9. Adult Modern Arms/Handgun Method of Collection – highest ranking buck harvested with a rifle or handgun.
10. Adult In-Line Muzzle Loader/Primitive Arms Method of Collection - highest ranking buck harvested with an In-Line Muzzle Loader or Primitive Arms.
11. Adult Most Points – buck with the highest number of scorable points.
12. Adult Widest Outside Spread – buck having the greatest spread between the outer edges of the antlers.
13. Adult Heavy Antlers – buck having the highest total mass score by taking four circumference measurements on each antler and calculating these measurements for a total “mass” score.
14. Adult Big 8 – typical buck having only two main beams and G1, G2, and G3’s. Projections less than 2 centimeters (.787 inches) will not be considered a point. Any evidence of broken tines beyond the G3 will disqualify the animal from this category.
15. Adult Longest Main Beam – buck having the highest total when the two main beam length measurements are combined.
16. Youth Archery Method of Collection – highest ranking buck harvested with a bow. Entries can be harvested during the special archery season or during the regular whitetail season.
17. Youth Crossbow Method of Collection – highest ranking buck harvested with a crossbow. Entries can be harvested during the special archery season or during the regular whitetail season.
18. Youth Modern Arms/Handgun Method of Collection - highest ranking buck harvested with a rifle or handgun.
19. Youth In-Line Muzzle Loader/Primitive Arms Method of Collection - highest ranking buck harvested with an In-Line Muzzle Loader or Primitive Arms.
20. Youth Most Points – buck with the highest number of scorable points.
21. Youth Widest Outside Spread – buck having the greatest spread between the outer edges of the antlers.
22. Youth Heavy Antlers– buck having the highest total mass score by taking four circumference measurements on each antler and calculating these measurements for a total “mass” score.

Additional Categories for High Fence and Low Fence Only
23. Youth Big 6 – typical buck having 2 main beams and any combination of tines over 2 centimeters (.787 inches) that add up to 6 total points. Broken tines less than 2 centimeters (.787 inches) will disqualify the animal from this category.
24. Youth Big 7 - typical buck having 2 main beams and any combination of tines over 2 centimeters (.787 inches) that add up to 7 total points. Broken tines less than 2 centimeters (.787 inches) will disqualify the animal from this category.
25. Youth Big 8 - typical buck having only two main beams and G1, G2, and G3’s. Projections less than 2 centimeters (.787 inches) will not be considered a point. Any evidence of broken tines beyond the G3 will disqualify the animal from this category.
26. Youth Big Spike - will consist of a trophy that has two single main beams with no points that are longer than 2 centimeters (.787 inches) in length. Broken points will disqualify the animal for the “longest spike” category. The total length of each spike will be added together to determine the winner of this category.

GENERAL RULES
1. Adult men and women, youth boys and girls that hold a valid hunting license may enter the contest. To be entered as a youth, you must be 17 years of age at the date of license purchase. Female youth and male youth are eligible in the adult categories provided there is no adult entry in that category. It is the responsibility of the person registering for the contest to read, understand and comply with the rules as well as ensure that should they register anyone else (i.e., parent registering for a youth) the BBC rules are made available to that registrant and that they understand the rules.
 
2. Contest begins with the official opening of the whitetail season in your respective county. Contest ends on January 31, 2024.
 
3. To win an award a person must be registered in the 2023-2024 contest. A person is considered registered at the time and day the entry fee of is received in the office of Trophy Game Records of the World or by any of its designated agents.  You DO NOT have to be pre-registered to enter the Big Buck Contest!

Registration Fees are: $30 before opening day of Bow Season and $40 after opening day of Bow Season.

Registrations can be made by check, cash or credit card, in person, by mail (Trophy Game Records, Big Buck Contest, 302 Washington St, Kerrville, TX 78028) or by calling the TGR office at 830-315-4868.  Only one registration per hunter and only one award per registration. Should a hunter/huntress/youth hunter/youth huntress enter more than one animal in the contest, only one animal can compete at a time and the Big Buck Contest Committee retains the right of placement of those animals.

4. To enter a trophy in the contest, an official TGR scorer must score the trophy using an official Big Buck Contest (BBC) score sheet. Any data recorded on the score sheet must be true and accurate. Full name, address, telephone and email of the hunter who harvested the animal as well as the true identification of the ranch and county of harvest must be listed. Should the hunter choose not to reveal the name of the ranch where the animal was harvested (information that is made public), he must send this request in writing to the TGR Office. An official TGR scorer must not score their own animal. The BBC Committee reserves the right to know what ranch/public land on which the animal was harvested in determining what division (open, high fence or low fence) the animal will be placed.
 
5. All animals will be scored using the Trophy Game Records of the World (TGR) guidelines. TGR’s method of scoring and TGR’s definition of a point (defined as an antler projection that is at least 2 centimeters (.787 inches) in length) will be used. Trophies with the velvet attached will have a 2% reduction in the overall score unless the hunter chooses to strip the velvet prior to scoring.
 
6. All trophies must be harvested in accordance with the rules and regulations of Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. or in accordance with appropriate rules of respective states (outside of Texas).
 
7. Photograph(s) must accompany the score sheet. Photographs must clearly represent all aspects of the animal. Any score sheet not accompanied by a photo will be incomplete and not accepted for the contest. This photograph may be used for promotional purposes and becomes the property of the Trophy Game Records of the World (TGR).
 
8. Once you harvest your animal, YOU SHOULD HAVE IT SCORED AND TURNED INTO THE TGR OFFICE WITHIN 14 DAYS. Should you harvest your animal between the dates of January 19th, 2024 and January 31st 2024, you have until 5:00 p.m. on February 1, 2024 for your score sheets to be submitted to the TGR office. NOT COMPLYING WITH THE “14 DAYS AFTER HARVEST SUBMISSION OF SCORE SHEET RULE”, INCOMPLETE SCORE SHEETS OR SCORE SHEETS WITH NO PHOTOS ATTACHED, WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION! Score sheets may be mailed (302 Washington St, Kerrville, TX 78028), emailed to trophyrecords@outlook.com, or you can text it (please call the office at 830-315-4868 for the number to text to). Should you choose to email your score sheet(s) and photos, please use the following guidelines: Score sheets must be signed and scanned using Adobe .pdf or .jpeg format for emailing. Photos may be sent via email but you MUST call (830) 315-4868 to confirm your score sheet(s) and/or photos have been received. Should you choose to text your photo, please contact our offices at (830) 315-4868 for texting telephone number and instructions.
 
9. Domesticated, gentle, or pet deer/mule deer/turkeys are not eligible for the contest.

10. Any disputes or controversies regarding the Big Buck Contest Rules and Regulations will be settled by the TGR Big Buck Contest Committee. All disputes must be in writing and submitted to the TGR office no later than February 5, 2024. Any fees incurred (travel for re-scoring, etc.) will be at the expense of the complainant.
 
11. The Big Buck Contest Committee reserves the right to investigate any questionable entry or call for a re-score of any entry. Every entrant, by the act of registering, gives his/her permission to be administered a polygraph exam should it become necessary to do so. Refusal to take a polygraph exam will be grounds for disqualification.
 
12. All category winners will be awarded prizes as determined by the Big Buck Contest officials and will be presented to the winners at the annual TGR awards banquet held in July following the closing of the contest. If a trophy should qualify for awards in more than one category, the Big Buck Contest Committee retains the right of placement.
 
13. Any firearms won by minors (under the age of 18) will be registered in an adult’s name and all state and federal regulations will apply. Any tax obligation incurred as a result of a prize won in this contest will be the sole responsibility of the contestant; not TGR, its officials or sponsors.
 
14. In the event of a tie in any category between two or more trophies, the winner will be determined by the highest scoring deer/mule deer/turkey and then by the earliest registration date and time. The registration date and time is defined as when the registration form is received in the Trophy Game Records of the World’s office or by any of its designated agents.
 
15. All winners in the youth division may be required to show a birth certificate prior to claiming any and all prizes. All participants in the BBC may be required to show proof of their valid hunting license.
 
16. At the start of the contest, a leader board will be maintained on the Big Buck Contest website www.tgrbigbuckcontest.com. The leader-board will show the current leaders in each category or list an “NA” if the category has not yet been filled. ONLY the following information will be listed: Hunter’s Name, Harvest Ranch and County of Harvest along with the Hunter’s field photo. No scores, measurements, weights, lengths, etc., will be revealed until the final results are posted at the end of the contest. When the final results are posted, the scores will reflect the Big Buck Contest (BBC) score (which includes the inside spread) in centimeters and the approximate score in inches.
 
17. All rules and regulations are subject to change/revision with final determination made by the Big Buck Contest Committee.