Texas hunters can win the hunt of their dreams this season. Or multiple hunts.
The Lone Star State boasts some of the finest hunting anywhere in the country, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Big Time Texas Hunts offer hunters a chance to experience the best of the best. Just ask last year’s Texas Grand Slam hunt winner Kelly Hill of Houston, who first learned of the program during a hunter education class and was selected for the Big Time Texas Hunts’ crown jewel after entering for the very first time.
“I went and researched it when I got home; and I was like — this is amazing,” said Hill. “Nine bucks to enter online; I took a certain amount of money and spread it over the ones that I was interested in, and I put six entries in for the grand slam, and one of them hit.”
The Texas Grand Slam hunt package includes four separate hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals — the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn. There are eight guided hunt packages available, including several quality whitetail hunting trips, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, feral hog, waterfowl and game birds. The Big Time Texas Hunts include food and lodging, as well as taxidermy in some cases.
The deadline to enter this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts is October 15.
Now that Hill has won his dream hunt, will he enter again? “Absolutely!” he said. “Oh, I’m going to continue to put in and hopefully get drawn again.”
Big Time Texas Hunts has generated $6.4 million since its inception in 1997, with proceeds dedicated to providing more public hunting opportunity and funding for wildlife conservation and research programs in Texas.
Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunts are $9 if purchased online and $10 if purchased at a license retailer or over the phone at 800-895-4248. Online and phone purchases will require a $5 administrative fee per transaction, meaning hunters can buy as many entries as they wish online for one fee. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.
Winners will be contacted before the end of October to give them time to make their hunting trip preparations. The preferred form of communication is by phone or email so update your account when you apply.
Learn more about the available hunt packages and purchase Big Time Texas Hunts entries online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/buybtth .
View the Big Time Texas Hunts Video at http://youtu.be/rlFAYa_0NkQ.
