Rules & regulations

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Rules & Regulations

  1. The Cola Blanca Contest Rules Committee has the right to declare any entry ineligible if IT IS THEIR OPINION THAT it was not harvested legally in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife rules and regulations and in accordance with the contest's rules and regulations listed below.
  2. Hunters must be licensed to hunt in the state of Texas or Mexico.
  3. Entry fee will be $30.00 for adults and $20 kids 17 and under. An eligible participant must be registered in the Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest before the animal is harvested to be eligible. One winning entry per licensed hunter.
  4. A person is considered registered at the exact time of day on the date the entry registration is received by Cola Blanca. A person may register themselves and/or may register other persons.
  5. Only deer harvested in Texas and Mexico may enter the contest. All Texas entries must be harvested in accordance with the rules & regulations of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. All Mexico entries must be harvested in accordance to the rule & regulations set forth by the Mexican Government.
  6. Each participant must enter his/her own harvest. The participant must have harvested the deer in the state of Texas or the Country of Mexico. For Texas entries, the antlers must be attached to the body of a freshly harvested whitetail deer or attached to a sufficient portion of the head, neck, and cape. The cape and antlers must be tagged. Mexico entrants may provide a skull plate attached to the antlers with the proper license deer tag attached to the antlers. All entires must be submitted within a fifteen-day period from time of harvest
  7. Each participant Texas/Mexico must enter his/her harvest no later than 8:00 PM the day the Contest designates as the last day to register entries from their respective state (Texas/Mexico) - please see Season Date for that contest year.
  8. All deer must be scored by an approved Cola Blanca scorer.
  9. SCORING LOCATIONS: Please check the Cola Blanca website for scoring locations, scorers phone numbers and scoring times. Cola Blanca will not accept score sheets from other contests unless the scorer is an official Cola Blanca scorer.
  10. Entries for Youth Javelina and Hog Division categories can be entered beginning with the opening of the Deer Archery Season/MLDP Season
  11. Boone & Crockett scoring guidelines will be used to determine scores except where otherwise noted.
  12. Winners will be based on full gross score, as recognized by the Boone & Crockett measuring system, except where otherwise noted. No deductions of any kind will be taken from the animal’s gross score other than inside spread. No deductions will be made for non-typical points, lack of symmetry, or in any other area considered a deduction by the Boone & Crockett scoring system.
  13. Any “Velveted” buck entered will be subject to a 3% deduction in order to be entered in the contest. If the hunter so chooses, they may have the velvet “scraped” and/or “removed” and will not be subject to the 3% deduction. However, the velvet must be removed and the deer measured within fifteen days of the date the deer was harvested.
  14. If a hunter should qualify to win an award in more than one category, the hunter may request which category his or her entry may compete in. If a deer is initially entered into a given category the committee may choose to move the entry to a different category at any time during the contest. An entry can be a winner in only one category.
  15. Winners may be asked to submit to a polygraph test to maintain the integrity of the contest.
  16. In all categories, the animals will be weighed ‘dressed’. ‘Dressed’ is defined as the entire carcass with all entrails removed including heart, liver, lungs, etc. All animals must be weighed at an Approved Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest Scoring location
  17. First place winners in all buck categories are required to display their trophies at the Cola Blanca Awards Night Banquet in Laredo, TX to claim their prize. The winning hunter is encouraged to attend and must notify the Laredo Chamber of Commerce at 800-292-2122 if he or she has asked someone else to present the winning entry. Winners in weight categories are encouraged to bring a mount of their winning animal or photo to be displayed at the awards banquet, but it is not required. In the event that a first place winner does not have his or her winning entry displayed, the prize(s) will be forfeited back to the Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest, except for any personalized item such as a ‘winner’s jacket’. Original standings will remain the same. First place winners from outside of the state of Texas are strongly encouraged to display their trophies at the Awards Night Banquet, but it is not required in order to receive their prizes. All shipping charges for the shipment of prizes will be incurred by the winners.
  18. The Cola Blanca Contest Rules Committee reserves the right to re-score any entry. The rules committee has the authority to reverse the scoring decision.
  19. All females, 17 years or older at the time of harvest, are required to compete in the Women’s Division. All males, 17 years or older at the time of harvest, are required to compete in the Men’s Division.
  20. All hunter, 60 years or older at the time of harvest are eligible to compete in the Senior Division.
  21. No trapped animals may be entered into the Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest.
  22. Animals harvested with a bow are restricted from placing in the Men's Overall High Fence, Men's Overall Low Fence, High/Low Widest Spread, High/Low Most Points, and High/Low Best 8 categories since the Archery Division has its own categories for Archery Overall High Fence, Archery Overall Low Fence, Archery Widest Spread, Arhcery Most Points, and Archery Best 8 categories. They do qualify for all other categories within the High/Low division which includes: Best 9-Point, Best 7-Point, Best 6-Point, Mr. Mass, Best Senior Buck, Longest Droptine, Webb County, Zapata County, LaSalle County, Jimm Hogg County, 140+ Hunter’s Club, 150+ Big Buck Club, 160+ Trophy Club, and 180+ Open Club.
  23. For an area to be considered a low fenced area it must have at least a 1 mile stretch of perimeter fence that is 5-foot high or less, and does not have a fence that could not be considered or configured to be “captive” or “deer proof” to white-tailed deer, i.e., would be a 7-foot or higher fence or placed at an angle to achieve this effect. This requirement to be considered a low fenced area also excludes properties that have inner fences offset from the perimeter fence that has the above high fence configuration or effect. A high fenced area must have contained at least 640 acres and there can be no cross fencing 5 feet or more or any fence that could be considered captive to white-tailed deer within the high fence perimeter or property.
  24. All references to “deer” refer to white-tailed deer only.
  25. All photographs and official score cards become the property of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce and may be used for future promotions.
  26. Any tax obligation incurred as a result of any prize awarded herein will be the responsibility of the recipient of that prize.
  27. The Laredo Chamber of Commerce Webb County Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value without notice
  28. Only Cola Blanca Officials are allowed to be with the scorer during the time that entries are being scored.
  29. All decisions applied by the Rules Committee of the Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest are final.
  30. "Open" Deer will be allowed into the contest’s “Non-Open” Categories. Deer will be categorized as "Open" if they meet any of the following criteria: 1- Any deer hunted off of a high-fence ranch that has been registered by Texas Parks & Wildlife as a Release Site will be placed into the "Open" Division. This includes deer which are pasture-born 2- Any deer handled by humans prior to harvest will be placed into the "Open" Division 3- Any tagged and/or tattooed deer will be placed into the "Open" Division 4- Deer that are not tagged or tattooed but are harvested within a TPWD registered release site will be placed into the "Open" Division. This includes deer that are pasture born but live within the boundaries of a TPWD registered release site 5- The Cola Blanca Scoring Committee reserves the right to make a final ruling for a deer's placement into the contest's "Open" or "High Fence" division based on the information gathered about the deer itself and the property it was harvested on 6- Any deer entered into the contest without disclosing ranch name will be placed into the "Open" Division
  31. BECAUSE SOME “OPEN” CATEGORIES IN THIS CONTEST ARE RESTRICTED TO NATIVE TEXAS, WILD, FREE-RANGING DEER, IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO REQUIRE VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGIN OF THE ENTRY BY RANCH AND LANDOWNER, ALTHOUGH IF REQUESTED, IT SHALL NOT BE PUBLICLY POSTED. THIS IS TO ENSURE NO PENNED RAISED, NORTHERN CROSSED, SCIENTIFIC BREEDER DEER OR THEIR OFFSPRING, RELEASED OR NOT OR ARTIFICIALLY ENHANCED DEER WHICH ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THE ‘OPEN’ CATEGORIES ARE ENTERED INTO THE CONTEST OR INTO ANY OF THE NON-OPEN CATEGORIES IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE COLA BLANCA BIG BUCK CONTEST.
  32. THE COLA BLANCA CONTEST COMMITTEE HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST AND BE PROVIDED ACCURATE AND COMPLETE INFORMATION REGARDING THE HARVEST, SOURCE, HISTORY AND GENETIC MAKEUP OF DEER ATTEMPTED TO BE ENTERED IN THE CONTEST. IT IS THE BURDEN AND OBLIGATION OF THE HUNTER/ENTRANT TO PROVIDE COMPLETE INFORMATION, ACCESS AND ALL PROOF REQUESTED TO DETERMINE IF THE ENTRY IS ELIGIBLE AND THE FAILURE TO COMPLETELY COMPLY AND PRODUCE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION IN A PROMPT AND TIMELY FASHION SHALL RENDER THE ANIMAL INELIGIBLE FOR ANY CATEGORY. THERE WILL BE NO APPEAL FROM A DECISION BY THE CONTEST COMMITTEE.
  33. All shipping costs will be incurred by the winner if his/her awards are shipped.
  34. All winners have 90 days from the Awards Banquet date to either pick up or request the shipping of their prizes at their own expense. Otherwise, all prizes will become the property of the Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest

Mexico Division – Rules & Regulations

  1. All rules and scoring will apply except the following:
    1. All rules and scoring will apply except the following:
    2. Each participant must be licensed to legally hunt in Mexico.
    3. Fresh antlers attached to a sufficient portion of the unbroken skull along with importation documentation are required for scoring. A cape is not required for Mexico Division entries.
    4. Each participant must register his/her whitetail antlers no later than 8:00 PM on January 31st.
    5. Deer harvested in Mexico are only eligible to be entered into the following categories: Best Mexico Overall, Youth Overall High Fence, Youth Overall Low Fence, High/Low Best 9, High/Low Best 8, High/Low Best 7, High/Low Best 6, High/Low Most Points, High/Low Mr. Mass, High/Low Best Senior Buck, Open Division, non-overall Archery categories, 140+ Hunter’s Club, 150+ Big Buck Club, 160+ Trophy Club, and 180+ Open Club. Hunters will be required to register before the animal is harvested to be eligible

Category Rules

  1. Bucks can be harvested by rifle, bow, or crossbow given the crossbow is considered a legal weapon in the county where the harvest was made. The winner is determined by its gross Boone and Crockett score except where noted. The deer can come from anywhere in the state of Texas or country of Mexico.
  2. Best Overall Mexico Buck category the deer must come from the country of Mexico. It can be harvested with a Rifle or a Bow. The winner is determined by its gross Boone and Crockett score.
  3. Longest Droptine – The deer can come from either Texas or Mexico and from a high or low fence area. Only one droptine will be scored to compete for this category. This category is not intended for third beams or tines that have been bent and grown below the beam. To be considered a droptine, the tine must originate from the bottom half of the main beam and grow in a downward direction.
  4. Mr. Mass – The deer can come from either a high or low fence area in Texas or Mexico. The winner is determined by the greatest total of the (H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4) scores from both main beams, using the B&C guidelines.
  5. Best Youth Rifle Buck (16 and under) – The deer can come from a Texas/Mexico high or low fence ranch but must be harvested by a youth whose age is from 16 and under years old at the time of kill.
  6. The Best Webb, Zapata, La Salle, Jim Hogg Buck – The deer can come from a low or high fence area but must be harvested in the respective county. The hunter has does not have to reside in the respective county. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 placing bucks harvested in the respective county using the gross Boone and Crockett scoring system.
  7. Best 9 Point – Deer entered in this category must have 9 and only 9 scorable points that are one inch or longer. Small bumps and points that are less than one inch do not count to be ‘scorable’ points, they must be one inch or longer for B&C scoring and for this category. However, if a deer has any obviously pre-existing points but are not scorable due to breakage and the remaining points total 9, this deer is not eligible for this category ( i.e., a 10 point deer with a broken brow or G-3 is not eligible for this category). The total of 9 points may be reached in any configuration of all typical points, typical plus abnormal points, etc. as long as there are no broken points that changes the buck's original number of points prior to breakage. For example, a buck can qualify as a clean, typical 9 with no broken tines, it can also qualify as an 8-point frame with a kicker as long as it has no broken tines. A buck that would not qualify is a 10-point frame where 1 tine is broken, and 9 scoreable points remain. This is a buck which was originally a 10-point.
  8. Best 8 Point – Deer entered in this category must have 8 and only 8 scorable points that are one inch or longer. Small bumps and points that are less than one inch do not count as ‘scorable’ points, they must be one inch or longer for B&C scoring and for this category. However, if a deer has any obviously pre-existing points but are not scorable due to breakage and the remaining points total 8, this deer is not eligible for this category (i.e., a 10 point deer with 2 broken brows or G-2s are not eligible for this category). The total of 8 points may be reached in any configuration of all typical points, typical plus abnormal points, etc. as long as there are no broken points that changes the buck's original number of points prior to breakage. For example, a buck can qualify as a clean, typical 8 with no broken tines, it can also qualify as a 7-point frame with a kicker as long as it has no broken tines. A buck that would not qualify is a 10-point frame where 2 tines are broken, and 8 scoreable points remain. This is a buck which was originally a 10-point.
  9. Best 7 Point – Deer entered in this category must have 7 and only 7 scorable points that are one inch or longer. Small bumps and points that are less than one inch do not count as ‘scorable’ points, they must be one inch or longer for B&C scoring and for this category. However, if a deer has any obviously pre-existing points but are not scorable due to breakage and the remaining points total 7, this deer is not eligible for this category (i.e., an 8 point deer with 1 broken brow or G-2 is not eligible for this category). The total of 7 points may be reached in any configuration of all typical points, typical plus abnormal points, etc. as long as there are no broken points that changes the buck's original number of points prior to breakage. For example, a buck can qualify as a clean, typical 7 with no broken tines, it can also qualify as a 6-point frame with a kicker as long as it has no broken tines. A buck that would not qualify is an 8-point frame where 1 tine is broken, and 7 scoreable points remain. This is a buck which was originally an 8-point.
  10. Best 6 Point – Deer entered in this category must have 6 and only 6 scorable points that are one inch or longer. Small bumps and points that are less than one inch do not count as ‘scorable’ points, they must be one inch or longer for B&C scoring and for this category. However, if a deer has any obviously pre-existing points but are not scorable due to breakage and the remaining points total 6, this deer is not eligible for this category (i.e., an 8 point deer with 2 broken tines is not eligible for this category). The total of 6 points may be reached in any configuration of all typical points, typical plus abnormal points, etc. as long as there are no broken points that changes the buck's original number of points prior to breakage. For example, a buck can qualify as a clean, typical 6 with no broken tines, it can also qualify as a 5-point frame with a kicker as long as it has no broken tines. A buck that would not qualify is a 7-point frame where 1 tine is broken, and 6 scoreable points remain. This is a buck which was originally an 7-point.
  11. 160+ Trophy Club – The Cola Blanca Contest will award all whitetail buck entries scoring 160 or more gross B&C that do not place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any of the buck categories a jacket embroidered with the Cola Blanca and sponsor logo. Entries placing in other categories of the contest are not eligible for this award. The awarded jackets will have 160+ Trophy Club, 170+ Trophy Club, 180+ Trophy Club, etc. embroidered on their jacket respectively.
  12. 150-159 7/8 Big Buck Club – The Cola Blanca contest will award all whitetail buck entries scoring between 150 and 159 7/8 gross score that do not place in any 1st , 2nd or 3rd in any of the buck categories a jacket embroidered with the Cola Blanca and sponsor logo. Entries placing in other categories of the contest are not eligible for this award.
  13. 140 to 149 7/8 Hunters Club – The Cola Blanca Contest will award all whitetail buck entries scoring 140 to 159 7/8 gross B&C that do not place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any of the buck categories a shirt embroidered with the Cola Blanca and sponsor logo. Entries placing in other categories of the contest are not eligible for this award.
  14. Best Whitetail Photo – Any photographer, amateur or professional of any age is eligible. Entrants are individual photographers only. (no teams) The Cola Blanca Contest will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes to the best whitetail photos submitted during the general hunting season. The photos can be taken anywhere in Texas and Mexico until the end of Mexico hunting season. No photos of penned or ear-tagged deer are eligible for this category. All contest entries must be registered in the Cola Blanca contest. Every contestant is allowed to enter a maximum of 2 photos. Entries are to be either mounted 35mm color slides or high-resolution digital images. All photos entered become property of the Cola Blanca Contest and may be used in any Cola Blanca events or publications. Designated Cola Blanca committee members will serve on a 4 person panel to judge contest entries. PLEASE SUBMIT DIGITAL IMAGES IN 300 DPI, JPEG FORMAT.
  15. Open Division Rules & Regulations - Any deer which originates from a breeder facility and is released for hunting purposes will be placed into the "Open Division". These bucks do not qualify for entry into the other existing Cola Blanca categories which do not allow non-native bucks to be entered into said categories. (Please refer to Rule # 16 in the CB Rules & Regulations for more details). Proof of release from the ranch manager or TPWD must be provided when requested by the Cola Blanca Scoring Committee.
    1. Bucks entered into the “Open” category can only participate and place in said categories. These entries are not eligible for entry into any of the existing ‘Non-Open’ categories. Bucks harvested in Texas and Mexico qualify for entry into the various categories within the "Open Division". Please see rules for each category for specific entry requirements below.
    2. In order to qualify for the "Open - Men" and "Open - Women" categories, the hunter must be 17 years of age or older at the time of harvest. Only bucks harvested in Texas and Mexico, by any legal means, qualify for entry into this category.
    3. In order to qualify for the "Youth – Open" category, the hunter, male or female, must be 16 years of age or younger at the time of the harvest. Only bucks harvested in Texas and Mexico, by any legal means, qualify for entry into this category.
    4. Only bucks harvested in Texas and Mexico are eligible for entry into the various “Open Division" categories.
  16. 180”+ Open Trophy Club – “Open” division bucks, scoring 180" or more, which do not place in any "Open" category, will be eligible to participate in the ‘180”+ Open Trophy Club’. Hunters who harvest eligible bucks will be awarded a '180”+ Open Trophy Club' jacket. Only bucks harvested in Texas and Mexico qualify for this category. There are no age or sex requirements for this category, it is open to males and females of all ages.

The Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest Committee reserves the right to cancel/remove a category without prior notice.

Tie-Breaker Rules

In the case of a tie, the following measurements will be used accordingly until a tie is broken: Best overall score, the total length of both main beams, widest spread, most points, and best H-1. Tie breaker for spikes is based on total length of both spikes, widest spread, and best H-1. The tie- breaker for heaviest doe, javelina, and the hog is based on the earliest date of entry scoring.

Dates for the 2024-2025 Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest are as follows:

Archery Only September 28 – November 1, 2024

General SeasonNovember 2, 2024 – January 19, 2025

Youth-OnlyOctober 25-27, 2024 / January 6-19, 2025

Special LateJanuary 20 – February 2, 2025

MexicoEntries will be accepted through January 31st for all States.

Special Late Season - During the Special Late Season, harvest is restricted to antlerless deer and unbranched antlered bucks. An unbranched antlered buck is any buck deer with an antler having no more than one point.

Additional rules may be added to support new categories that are added by contest sponsors. All categories and rules will be listed in the contest guidebook website.

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