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ABBC Contest Rules

Registration, eligibility, measurement, and scoring requirements for the Shiner Area Big Buck Contest.
  1. Eligible hunters must be signed in and have entry fee paid ($30 for adults and $20 for youth) by midnight Thursday, October 23, 2025 (for Early Youth Weekend) and by midnight Friday, October 31, 2025(for Adults & Youth). Youth Hunters must be 16 years of age or younger on November 1, 2025. Hunters may sign up during the final hours at Maeker's Liquor at 1320 North Ave E, Shiner TX and Howard's at 1701 North Ave E, Shiner TX. Hunters may also enter online.
  2. Deer must be a whitetail buck killed during the general hunting season.
  3. Eligible bucks must be killed in one of the following five Texas counties: Colorado/Fayette—combined as one County Region—DeWitt, Gonzales or Lavaca County, except for Texas Open categories. Entries must be legal as defined by the General Gun Season regulations for a county. Deer harvested on MLD 2 & 3 properties are allowed, but Special Antler Restrictions apply.
  4. Bucks killed within a deer-proof fence or any other confined area are not eligible. Bucks that were ever kept inside a pen for breeding or any other reason, tagged or tattooed for breeding, raised in a fenced-in area and released, or considered tame, domesticated or pets are not allowed.
  5. Bucks must be properly tagged according to Texas State Law when brought in for measurement. The hunter must present a valid hunting license and contest entry card to the official measurer.
  6. Except for the Late Youth-Only and Texas South Zone, measurement must be made within 24 hours of kill and no later than noon on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. For late Youth Weekend and Texas South Zone, the deadline is noon on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
  7. Measurements: The hunter must bring the entire body of the field-dressed animal to an official measurer. Hunters in Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales or Lavaca counties may request permission from an official measurer to clean the deer first. Measurement is still required within 24 hours. The authorizing measurer is the only person authorized to measure the animal unless authorization is passed to another official measurer.
  8. Measurement locations: View official measurers.
  9. Point system: Winners are decided by the total score under the scoring system below.

SCORING SYSTEM

  1. The total number of points. No point less than 1" long is counted; no rounding is allowed.
  2. The width of the outside spread. All measurements must be made from the main beam only.
  3. The two longest tines off the main beam per side are measured and scored, for four total tines.
  4. Total Score is the sum of total points, outside width, and the four measured tines.
  5. Ties are determined by the longest tine, then the next longest of the four measured tines until a winner is determined.
  1. No point less than one inch from its base is counted.
  2. All measurements are rounded to the nearest 1/8 inch.
  3. Broken points measuring less than the minimum length do not count.
  4. If the main beam is broken, the detached portion is excluded.
  5. Moveable main beams are measured at the narrowest point when held in.
  6. Once measured, a buck cannot be measured by another measurer unless authorized by the contest committee.
  7. In a tie, compare the longest tine and then the next-longest tine until a winner is determined.
  1. Hunters may be required to take a polygraph test. A submission form authorizing the test must be signed by any registered hunter bringing in a deer for measurement. For youth hunters, a parent or guardian must sign. Failure to sign, submit to, or pass the exam results in disqualification.
  2. Hunters attempting to cheat or violating Texas Game Laws are disqualified and barred from entering for a period determined by the contest committee.
  3. No more than one prize will be awarded to any registered hunter. A hunter's second buck is valid only if it outscores the first buck.
  4. Door prizes are awarded only to entrants present at the Awards Banquet.
  5. All decisions of the contest committee are final.

TEXAS OPEN DIVISION OF THE ABBC

Registered ABBC hunters are eligible for the Texas Open Division. A qualifying Texas Open winner is ineligible for a prize in the five-county competition. All ABBC rules apply with these exceptions:

  1. The deer must be a whitetail buck killed in a Texas county other than Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales or Lavaca during that county's regular season.
  2. The field-dressed body is not required for measurement, but the head and enough cape for a shoulder mount must remain intact. Sawed-off horns are not counted.
  3. North Zone entries must be measured within 72 hours of kill and no later than noon Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
  4. South Zone entries must be measured within 72 hours of kill and no later than noon Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
  5. North and South Zone areas follow the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department county definitions.

NOTICE:By entering the contest, entrants grant the Shiner Business Men's Club permission to use contest photographs or video in publications, news releases, online, on social media and in communications related to contest marketing and current standings. Any contestant may be required to take a polygraph test.

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