Deer Contest Near Granbury & Fort Worth | Los Cazadores
Oct 28th 2026
Deer Contest Near Granbury, Cresson & Fort Worth: Enter the World's Largest Whitetail Deer Contest
Deer season in North Texas opens Saturday, November 7, 2026, and the clock is already running on one rule that matters most: you have to register for the Los Cazadores Whitetail Deer Contest before you harvest your buck. If you hunt in Hood, Parker, Johnson, Somervell, Erath or Tarrant County, your closest scoring location is our Granbury store at 7730 East Highway 377 in Cresson, just southwest of Fort Worth.
For 40 years, Texas hunters have brought their best bucks to Los Cazadores. Now hunters across the Fort Worth area have a Breezeway, a 3D scanner and their own North Central divisions right down the road. Here's everything you need to know to get your buck on the leaderboard this season.
Register for the 2026–2027 Deer Contest →
40 Years of the World's Largest Whitetail Deer Contest
The Los Cazadores Deer Contest started in South Texas in the 1980s with a red-and-white sign, a $5,000 grand prize and hunters who wanted to know whose buck was best. Four decades later, it's the World's Largest Whitetail Deer Contest, with 11 divisions, 4 scoring Breezeways and every buck scored in 3D.
The contest has some history behind it, too. In the 1988–89 season, George Strait won the $5,000 grand prize with a 191 gross B&C buck from his Webb County ranch. He then donated $2,500 to start the Los Cazadores Youth Wildlife Scholarship Fund for students pursuing wildlife management degrees.
The scoring has changed from tape measures to 3D scans. The tradition hasn't: register first, hunt hard and bring your buck to the Breezeway.
North Central Divisions: A Leaderboard Built for Fort Worth-Area Hunters
You don't have to compete against South Texas giants to win. The contest has two divisions just for hunters in North Central Texas counties, so your buck is ranked against deer from the same kind of country you hunt.
|
Division |
Who it's for |
Sponsor |
Legends Club minimum (SCI gross) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Low fence bucks from North Central counties |
SIG Sauer |
150 |
|
|
High fence bucks from North Central counties |
Horizon Firearms |
180 |
Your buck can also compete statewide in High Fence, Low Fence, Archery High Fence or Archery Low Fence, and young hunters 14 and under can enter the Caza Youth division for free. Check the division map on the contest page to confirm which division your county falls in.
Bow hunters around Lake Granbury and the Brazos River country, take note: the archery divisions are bow only, with no crossbows. Bring your bow buck to the Granbury store's full-service archery shop and Breezeway in one stop.
How to Enter the Deer Contest: Register Before You Harvest
The number one rule is simple: you must be registered before you harvest your buck. A deer taken before your registration is received can't be entered, no matter how big it is. You also need a valid Texas hunting license.
- Register first. Sign up online or in person at our Granbury store in Cresson. Your entry is official once your form and fee are received.
- Hunt Texas. Keep the cape attached to the skull. Antlers-only entries aren't accepted, and skull-cap entries go to the Open division.
- Bring it to the Breezeway. Drive your buck to 7730 East Highway 377 during store hours. Our staff will help with the entry form.
- Get scanned. Trophy Scan builds a 3D model of your rack and scores it using SCI guidelines. You get a digital scoresheet and a 3D model to keep.
- Climb the board. Leaderboards update every Tuesday and Friday all season.
Pick your entry
|
Entry |
Price |
What's included |
|---|---|---|
|
Deer Contest Entry |
$49.99 per hunter |
Up to 2 animals, 3D Trophy Scan and scoresheet |
|
Annual Membership (best value) |
$149.99, expires July 1 |
Deer Contest and Spring Turkey Contest, up to 4 animals |
|
Caza Youth |
Free, ages 14 and under |
Caza Youth Division, up to 2 animals, participation award |
|
Ranch Entry (new) |
$175 per ranch |
Up to 5 animals, scoresheets to the ranch and the hunter |
|
Lifetime Membership |
$1,250 one time |
Annual membership benefits for life |
Youth hunters must be 14 or under as of September 1, 2026. Ranch entries must be harvested on the registered ranch.
Where to Score Your Buck Near Fort Worth: The Granbury Breezeway
The closest Los Cazadores scoring location to Fort Worth, Granbury, Weatherford, Stephenville and Cleburne is our Granbury store in Cresson.
Los Cazadores Granbury 7730 East Highway 377, Cresson, TX 76035 Get directions →
We sit right on US Highway 377 between Fort Worth and Granbury, so it's an easy stop on the drive home from a lease in Hood, Parker, Johnson, Somervell or Erath County.
What to bring
- Your buck with the cape still attached to the skull (antlers-only entries aren't accepted)
- Your valid Texas hunting license
- Your contest registration information
- Your ranch name, if you want your entry to count toward Ranch of the Year
Entries are scanned during regular store hours. While you're in, stock up on feed, blind essentials and hunting apparel for the rest of the season. You can also drop off your buck with Los Cazadores Taxidermy.
Awards and Prizes for the 2026–2027 Season
Every division awards 1st, 2nd and 3rd place with custom jackets and gift cards. The headline awards are presented at the Big Buck Bash in summer 2027, and every contest entry is invited.
|
Award |
How it's won |
Prize |
|---|---|---|
|
Best All-Around |
Highest gross SCI score across all divisions (excluding Open) |
Plaque, 4 Big Buck Bash tickets and a $2,000 prize package |
|
The Dead Even (new) |
Most symmetrical typical buck, 10+ points, scored by Trophy Scan |
$250 taxidermy credit, plaque, 2 tickets, embroidered jacket title |
|
Ranch of the Year (new) |
Ranch with the most Breezeway entries |
Plaque, replica shoulder mount, Bash table and a marketing feature |
|
Freak of the Year |
Wildest rack, chosen by public vote |
Belt buckle, plaque, $250 taxidermy credit, 2 tickets |
|
Don Keller Award |
Staff-selected finalists, public vote |
$250 taxidermy credit, plaque, 2 tickets |
There are also category awards like Most Points, Widest Spread, Mr. Heavy, Women's, Youth and Veterans/Military. See the official rules for the full list.
Hunting a family ranch or lease in Hood or Parker County? Have every hunter list your ranch name on their Breezeway entry form. Every entry counts toward Ranch of the Year.
2026–2027 North Zone Deer Season Dates and Contest Deadlines
The North Zone general season, which covers the Fort Worth and Granbury area, runs November 7, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Register before opening day so every buck you take this season can be entered.
|
Date |
What happens |
|---|---|
|
Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 |
Early youth-only season |
|
Nov. 7, 2026 |
North Zone general season opens |
|
Every Tuesday and Friday |
Contest leaderboards update |
|
Jan. 3, 2027 |
North Zone general season closes |
|
Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
North Zone special late season and late youth-only season |
|
Summer 2027 |
Big Buck Bash awards ceremony |
The contest ends with the close of the Texas general deer season. Entries are accepted up to two days after the close with proof of in-season harvest. Late-season MLDP deer aren't accepted. Always confirm dates and bag limits for your county in the TPWD Outdoor Annual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I enter a deer contest near Fort Worth?
Bring your buck to Los Cazadores Granbury at 7730 East Highway 377 in Cresson, TX 76035. It's the closest of our four Breezeway scoring locations to Fort Worth.
Do I have to register before I hunt?
Yes. You must be registered before you harvest your entry, and you need a valid Texas hunting license. Register online or in any Los Cazadores store.
How much does it cost to enter the deer contest?
A standard entry is $49.99 per hunter for up to 2 animals. Youth hunters 14 and under enter the Caza Youth Division free.
How is my buck scored?
Every entry is 3D-scanned by Trophy Scan and scored by an SCI-certified scorer using SCI guidelines. You get a digital scoresheet and a 3D model of your rack.
Can I enter a buck from a high fence ranch?
Yes. North Central High Fence, statewide High Fence and Archery High Fence divisions are all open to high fence bucks.
Do I need to bring the whole deer?
The cape must be attached to the skull. Antlers-only entries aren't accepted, and skull-cap entries go to the Open division.
Register Today. Harvest Tomorrow.
Opening day is November 7. Don't take the buck of a lifetime in Hood or Parker County and find out it can't be entered. Register now, hunt hard and bring your buck to the Granbury Breezeway on Highway 377.
Register for the Deer Contest →
Questions about your entry? Email contests@loscazadores.com or call (830) 505-1424.