The Hunters Extravaganza, is a tradition as big as Texas. August may be known as the sweltering dog days of summer, but the most successful of all Texas hunting shows shifts the focus toward hot hunting action with an emphasis on white-tailed deer.

The TTHA show’s San Antonio stop at Freeman Coliseum will run Aug. 11-13. Stops in Houston and Fort Worth are also included in the tour.

Tens of thousands of hunters attend the Texas shows each August. Exhibit space has been sold out for months. Exhibitors are coming from as far away as Canada. Some will have brand new products and brand new hunting opportunities. Others, like C.E. Blackwell, haven’t changed their products since 1960. Blackwell also has not missed a single Hunters Extravaganza in 30 years.

“I don’t go to other hunting shows and I don’t advertise anywhere except the TTHA magazine,” said Blackwell, who owns a welding and manufacturing company in New Braunfels. “I’ve been making the same deer stands since 1960 and these shows have been good to me. I’ve made a lot of contacts and met a lot of good people over the years. Hunters will often see our stands at the show, but may not buy a stand until months later.”

Nearly all deer hunters are totally consumed with the life cycle of their favorite game animal. Never has a form of wildlife been studied with the intensity focused on whitetails and few researchers are as well respected as Dr. James Kroll, a.k.a. “Dr. Deer.” He is a Hunters Extravaganza seminar mainstay. This year, his presentation will center around seven years of antler development research.

This is eye-opening information, considering Texas Parks and Wildlife’s plan to expand antler restrictions into one-buck counties throughout the state. (For questions, call Parks and Wildlife at 512-389-4800.) In a nutshell, said Kroll, it’s very hard to predict what a buck will eventually look like based on its first set of antlers. Attend Kroll’s seminar for an explanation of his research, including photographs of numerous bucks charted throughout their development.

Trophy whitetails are a huge draw at the Hunters Extravaganza and this year is no exception. In addition to trophies displayed in booths, the event features its annual whitetail competition. Hunters can enter last season’s top bucks in one of five categories: High Fence, Open Range, Archery, Best in the Last Five Years and Texas Mule Deer for the regions of South Texas and Mexico, North Texas or states other than Texas, including Canada.

Awards are given through third place. This year, judging criteria is based on gross score instead of net score. Call (210) 523-8500 for entry and awards details. First place winners in each category will receive a “Trophy Jacket” sponsored by Pogue Agri Partners, Academy Sport and Outdoors, Atascosa Wildlife Supply, the Herradura Ranch and the Laredo Chamber of Commerce (Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest).