Day 1

On Friday I met Rick Philippi at his home in Fort Worth (Rick's recent columns & other articles) and we went to the 30th Annual Texas Trophy Hunters Extravaganza at the Will Rogers Convention Center. Once we found a place to park I phoned my friend Leroy Sisco and he met us at the entrance and brought us into the show. Here is a pic of Leroy and Rick.

Leroy Sisco and Rick Philippi at the 2006 Texas Trophy Hunters Extravaganza

From time to time, over the years, you have heard about Leroy Sisco on Bowhunting.net. (Leroy Sisco search results) These day's Leroy is a retired Two Star General and the CEO of the Texas Trophy Hunters companies. You can see Leroy bowhunting on some of the American Trophy Hunters TV Show & DVDs.

We entered the main hall and Rick and I took a right and started at the far wall.

I was glad to see Oran Hill of Oran Hill Outfitters (in the pic below). Oran is well known to Texas bowhunters. He has bowhunting only hunts in the Texas Hill Country and has an abundance of deer, turkey, and hogs on the ranches he hunts. Here is the 2000 bowhunt with Oran Hill.

Oran and I discussed the possibility of returning to one of his ranches. If we can get together on a time you will definitely see the hunt on Bowhunting.net.

We checked the exhibitors in about 60% of the exhibit hall before Rick and I ran out of time. Both of us visited with people we knew and met new folks as well.

Day 2 & 3
Before returning to the show I met bowhunting.net communists Jason Balazs and his wife Jodi as well as their family at Joe T. Garcias mexican restaurant in the Fr. Worth stockyards. (Jason's columns) Then we all went to the show.

We saw Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo of the Archer's Choice TV and Jason wanted to meet them. They chatted a bit and I took their picture.

Ralph Cianciarulo, Jason Balazs and Vicki Cianciarulo at the Archer's Choice booth.

Jason took pictures of the show as we walked around -- Here are the first pics: Pics #1...
 And here are the rest: Pics #2...

Seminar Speakers
There were a variety of topics covered by the Seminar Speakers for the show. They spoke on all 3 days of the show.

Roger Raglin - America's Whitetail Deer Hunter 
Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo - Archer's Choice Hunting 
Dr. James Kroll & Ben Koerth - Dr. Deer- Growing Big Whitetail
Michael Waddell - Team RealTree Road Trips
Byron Tabor - On Target for Christ
Brian Doty - Varmint Calling
Ronnie Smith - Radio and TV Show Personality

Annual Deer Contest
A much looked forward to event of this show is the Annual Deer Contest. Texas Trophy Hunters Association members can have their bucks scored and entered in the contest.

The Hunters Extravaganza Whitetail Competition is open only to current members of the Texas Trophy Hunters Association and their immediate family, i.e. spouse and children. All entries must have been harvested during the last season and by legal means (as described in the applicable state's game laws). In order to confirm same, all registrants must submit to a lie detector test upon request.

All entries must have been harvested by the person entering the animal and can only be entered in one Hunters Extravaganza location (San Antonio, Houston or Dallas/Ft. Worth).  Found, purchased, and mounted shed antlers are strictly prohibited.

Near the end of the show the winners were announced. The winners were announced and photographed with their trophies. These were the categories. Congratulations to all of the deer hunters (men, women, girls and boys) who participated in this event. 

  DIVISION I:  MODERN ARMS - OPEN RANGE
                Typical
                                Adult Male (18 - 64 years old)
                                Senior Male (65 years and older)
                                Ladies (18 years and older)
                                Youth (0-17 years, male or female)
                Non-typical
                                Adult Male (18 - 64 years old)
                                Senior Male (65 years and older)
                                Ladies (18 years and older)
                                Youth (0-17 years, male or female)

DIVISION II:  MODERN ARMS - HIGH FENCED
                Typical
                Non-typical

DIVISION III:  ARCHERY
                Typical
                Non-typical

DIVISION IV:  BEST IN LAST FIVE SEASONS
                     1999/01 to 2003/2004
                Typical
                Non-typical

DIVISION V: BEST TEXAS MULE DEER
                   (LAST SEASON)
                Typical
                Non-typical