Enter Best of Texas for big prizes

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s Best of Texas Big Buck and Big Hog Contest is underway, and according to chairman of the Best of Texas committee, Kevin Stancik, hunters have plenty of categories to choose from and lots of great prizes to win.
    “We have seven different divisions, which includes the photo divisions,” he said. “We have 31 categories within those divisions. One division strictly deals with Jackson County. One division strictly deals with low fence ranches. One division strictly deals with high-fence ranches throughout the state of Texas. There are categories for everything.”
    There are also youth divisions and ladies’ divisions, deer and hog divisions, archery and firearm divisions, and more. 
    Deer are scored using the time-honored Boone and Crockett scoring system, which takes into account several measurements from around the animal. The hog competition is scored based on field-dressed weight.
    “A field-dressed weight is all entrails removed,” said Stancik, “Guts, lungs, any internal organs must be completely removed. Skin still on it, head still on it, meat still on it. It has to be weighed at one of our locations and that animal must be in edible condition. It cannot appear to be spoiled or hot to touch.”
    The hog contest is particularly important because wild hogs are considered a nuisance animals. Their lack of natural predators and hearty breeding habits lead to severe overpopulation, making the animals a threat to crops and other agriculture.
    “They are over-abundant,” said Stancik, “they have hardly any enemy other than disease. They multiply super quickly. A wild sow can raise three litters a year, and almost all of them survive.”
    At the end of the contest, in February, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Best of Texas banquet where awards are handed out to winners. A gun raffle is also held, as well as an action, and a meal served. 
    “There are over $12,000 in prizes, including gun safes, deer feeders, game cameras, binoculars, really nice prizes,” said Stancik. “We pay out for first and second place in each category.”
    The banquet is held on Feb 4, just after the close of the contest.
    To download the entry form, or to see the full lists of rules and categories, go to www.jacksoncountytexas.com or call the Chamber of Commerce at 782-7146. 
    Scoring stations are located at Ganado Feed & More, Ganado; Jackson County Feed and Jacobs Animal Health Supplies in Edna, Gulf Coast Feed & More, Victoria; Kresta Boats and Motors/Double R Firearms, Edna, and United Ag in Edna.