Tarleton’s Silver Bugle Hunt connects students to their legacy

BY COLTON BRADBERRY / Multimedia Journalist

As part of Tarleton State University’s annual homecoming festivities, the Silver Bugle Hunt once again brought students together in a spirited competition to find one of the university’s most treasured symbols. 

This year, the team “3110”, composed of Samantha Lira, Avery Killough, Jillian Sexton and Sarah Brown, were the first to uncover the prized Silver Bugle, claiming victory and securing their place in the legacy of Tarleton’s homecoming traditions.

The Silver Bugle Hunt is more than just a game—it’s a cherished tradition steeped in Tarleton’s rich history. The bugle itself is a symbolic nod to the university’s military roots, a reminder of Tarleton’s beginnings when it served as a military academy. 

The hunt invites students to engage with the university’s past by answering questions that lead them through campus landmarks, retracing the steps of generations of Tarleton Texans who came before them.

For students like Ethan Beck, who participated in this year’s hunt, the event holds a special significance. 
“I feel like it keeps us in touch with our traditions,” Beck said. “They did this way back then, and we’re still doing it now. It just makes Tarleton more of a home and a place where you want to be.”

The Silver Bugle Hunt is a key part of the homecoming experience, providing a direct link between Tarleton’s storied past and its vibrant present. The hunt challenges students to work together, solve riddles and explore the campus, all while connecting them to the legacy of former students who once searched for the same elusive prize. 

The thrill of the chase, combined with the sense of belonging it fosters, makes the hunt a highlight of the homecoming celebration.

For Casey Dickerson, a senior at Tarleton, this year’s hunt holds a special place in her heart as it marks her last year at Tarleton.

“This is my senior year, and I’ve never done it before. It was something me and my friend group wanted to do this year,” Dickerson said. “I think it’s really special because not only is this significant to Tarleton and its tradition, it’s something we can participate in and be involved with spirit in.”

Dickerson, who also serves as a Texan representative, reflected on how Tarleton has shaped her college experience. 

“Tarleton has become home for me. It’s also just kind of a memorial thing this year to really take it all in,” she added, emphasizing the emotional weight of her final year on campus.

Winning the Silver Bugle Hunt is no small feat, as teams must work together to decode clues that lead them closer to the bugle’s hidden location. This year “3110” managed to outwit the competition and claim victory.

The Silver Bugle Hunt embodies the spirit of Tarleton, where community and tradition are woven into the fabric of student life. The event has evolved over the years, but its core purpose remains the same: To connect students with Tarleton’s history, to challenge them intellectually and physically and to create lasting bonds of friendship and camaraderie.

As the Silver Bugle is found and the hunt concludes, the event once again proves its power to unite students in a shared experience that transcends generations. Beck captured the essence of what it means to be a part of Tarleton: “Family. To sum it up in one word, it’s family.”