Whitetail Bonanza

Five Texas Whitetail Bonanza winners will each get to experience a high-quality white-tailed deer hunt on popular Texas ranches or the Chaparral and Matador Wildlife Management Areas.

Note: Big Time Texas Hunts entries will be available again starting May 15, 2024.

Stephen Lara was one of the lucky 2022 Whitetail Bonanza winners. Click here to read his vivid and moving narrative, “The Seasons of the Hunt,” detailing his experience at Big Woods on the Trinity with his brother-in-law Rene who first introduced him to the sport just one year earlier.
Daniel Chavez and his son, Noah Villalobos, with their harvest from the 2022 hunt at BigWoods on the Trinity.
Michael Loper with his 149 3/8 gross, 147 1/8 net harvest at the 2022 Whitetail Bonanza at Matador WMA.
2022 winner Kasey Mock with his family: wife Elizabeth, daughter Caroline and son Maddox who harvested the white-tail at Gus Engeling WMA.
Russell Wilkins, one of the BTTH 2021-22 winners, 139 7/8” 10 point at Gus Engeling.
Gary Dupnick and Gary Dupnick Jr, Chaparral WMA
Timothy Urbanek, one of the BTTH 2020-21 winners, harvested this fine buck at Matador WMA.
Winner Brandon Kirby, one of the BTTH 2020-21 winners, took his first deer at Big Woods on the Trinity.
Israel Ball, one of five Whitetail Bonanza hunt winners, harvested this buck at Catorce Ranch in 2020.
Tim Beck was a winner in 2020 and bagged this buck at Chaparral WMA. Gross 143.0 and net 137. His guest also harvested a big buck.
Chase Dugas, hunting guest and son of 2019 winner, Darrell Dugas, with his whitetail.
Lane McCall with his whitetail at Chaparral WMA.
Case Lucky, guest of 2019 winner, with his whitetail at Matador WMA.
Audion Hubenak was one of the 2018 winners and bagged this buck , which scored 170 1/8 gross, at Meyer’s Spring Ranch.

The lucky winners will:

Enjoy complimentary food and lodging throughout their three-to five-day trip
Bring a hunting companion to share in their trip
Have professional guides with expertise on the land and available game
Take the hunt during the fall and winter of 2023 - 2024 season

BigWoods on the Trinity

This 7,500 acre hunting oasis offers winners a fair chase hunt for high-quality white-tailed deer. Winners will also be provided transportation to and from stands and quartering for their harvest.

Out of the field, visitors can relax at the five star hunting lodge with a theater room, 500 yard rifle range, free Wi-Fi and gourmet food included. The surrounding property is filled with lush marshes, woods and lakes and even won the Leopold Conservation Award in 2015.

Learn more about BigWoods on the Trinity!

BigWoods Leopold Award video.
BigWoods on the Trinity
BigWoods on the Trinity
Chuck Woodside, one of the BTTH 2021-22 winners, and guest Paul at BigWoods.
Hunter and their harvest at BigWoods on the Trinity
Hunter and their harvest at BigWoods on the Trinity

Chaparral Wildlife Management Area - South Texas

Chaparral WMA encompasses 15,200 acres of South Texas brush country, where the winner can pursue high-quality trophy deer. The Chaparral lies in the heart of the ‘Golden Triangle’ which is an area recognized for trophy buck potential. During the 2015-2016 season, the largest buck measured 172 3/8" gross.

This rugged South Texas landscape also hosts feral hogs, javelina, bobwhite quail, Texas tortoise and the iconic Texas horned lizard.

Thanks to your Big Time Texas Hunts entries, new ADA accessible ramps are now available at at Chaparral WMA. Learn more about where the money goes »

2023 Whitetail Bonanza winner Jay and Stephanie Kasper, Chaparral WMA
Deer on the run across the shrubland
White-tailed deer caught on camera

Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA) - Post Oak Savannah

Gus Engeling WMA is located in northwest Anderson County and functions as a wildlife research and demonstration area for the Post Oak Savannah Ecoregion. The 11,079-acre area is comprised of 2,000 acres of hardwood bottomland floodplain and almost 500 acres of natural watercourses, 350 acres of wetlands, marshes and swamps and nearly 300 acres of sphagnum moss bogs. The Gus Engeling WMA has a rich variety of wildlife and the observant visitor may see white-tailed deer, wild turkey, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, raccoon, beaver, wood duck, or pileated woodpecker and more.

Learn more about Gus Engeling WMA »

Thanks to your Big Time Texas Hunts entries, a number of wildlife habitat and hunter access projects have been completed at the Gus Engeling WMA over the last few years. New hunters will also benefit starting next season when they are able to use new mentored hunting equipment purchased with BTTH funds. Learn more about where the money goes »

Depending on weather, WMA staff may choose to conduct this hunt on a different WMA within the Middle Trinity River Ecosystem Project to give the hunter the best opportunity for success.

View of the habitat at Gus Engeling WMA.
Deer caught on camera at Gus Engeling WMA.
Past winner at the Gus Engeling WMA.
Past winner at the Gus Engeling WMA.
Past winner at the Gus Engeling WMA.

Matador Wildlife Management Area - Texas Panhandle

This expansive 28,000-acre wildlife management area, in the central Rolling Plains, offers an abundance of wildlife for hunters. Winners can harvest a whitetail deer during their winter hunt as well as spot bobwhite quail, roadrunners, coyotes,pronghorn and the iconic Texas horned lizards roaming the property. Learn more about Matador Wildlife Management Area »

Thanks to your Big Time Texas Hunts entries, new habitat conservation projects are underway that will help white-tailed deer, mule deer, wild turkey and northern bobwhite populations at Matador WMA. Learn more about where the money goes »

Moonrise over the plateaus of Matador WMA
Sunset at Matador WMA
Coyote scanning the prairie at Matador WMA
Hunter with his white-tailed deer, measuring 163 4/8 gross, from Matador WMA
Hunter with his white-tailed deer, measuring 163 5/8 gross, from Matador WMA

Partners