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22nd Annual Los Cazadores Deer Contest  » Leaderboard » 3rd Annual Art, Writing, Photo » Archives » Registration » Divisions » 2007 Rules » Life Members » History » Art, Writing, Photo |
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1st Annual Los Cazadores North American Deer Contest » Leaderboard » Registration » 2007 Rules |
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Contest Archives » 2006-2007 » 2005-2006 » 2004-2005 » 2003-2004 » 2002-2003 |
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History of the Los Cazadores Deer Contest Since the early days of settlements in the Brush Country of South Texas (between the towns of San Antonio and Laredo), outdoorsmen from around the State and Nation have made annual treks to South Texas in pursuit of trophy whitetail deer. Old newspapers, books, magazines, etc. indicate that groups of hunters from areas such as San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston would travel by train to South Texas each winter, where they would stay for a few days to several weeks in the "outdoors", enjoying the sport of hunting. That ritual has sustained itself throughout the years and is just as prevalent today as it was back then. The impact of hunting on the economy of South Texas has continued to grow through the years, to the extent that "hunting" is a primary factor on the overall economic status of South Texas. Geographically, Pearsall, Texas is located just about in the center of the most prime hunting habitat area of Texas. Each year thousands of people travel to or through Pearsall for their hunting enjoyment. In 1986 an annual "Big Deer Contest" competition for hunters who hunt South Texas and Northern Mexico was started. The competition was named "LOS CAZADORES", which in Spanish means "THE HUNTERS". That annual competition period continues today, with the 21st annual competition. Although most trophies entered in the annual competition are taken from properties in South Texas and Northern Mexico, whitetail deer taken from anywhere within the state of Texas are eligible in the Contest. Participation in the Contest requires hunters to pay a fee for entry into the competition. Over two thousand hunters participate for the annual competition. Upon harvest of a deer, the hunter is required to bring his/her trophy to the Contest Headquarters in Pearsall or Brady Texas, where measurements of the deer's antlers and body weight are taken and recorded; then the hunters pose with their trophies for photographs. This procedure continues throughout the hunting season, and once the hunting season is completed the hunters who have brought in the finest trophy deer during the season are declared winners of the annual competition. Some notable highlights throughout the history of the Contest include a first place win in 1988 by George Strait, noted Country and Western Superstar; a first place win in 1992 by Minnie Dora Bunn Haynes, with a trophy which stands as the largest deer ever taken by a woman in Texas; a first place win in 1997 by Adan Alvarez, with a trophy which was the largest deer taken in Texas in over thirty years. |