MLDP Clarification

[qzilla]

There has been some discussion lately about the MLDP we have here in TX. I think sometimes things get blown out of proportion and I want to try and help clarify a few things.

First and foremost, depending on your level of MLD it is legal to harvest anything in your program as soon as the MLD season starts. I just wanted to get that out of the way. These guys are not doing anything illegal shooting a lot of the bucks you are seeing!


Now, the purpose of the MLDP system was to allow land owners both low and high fence ranches extra time to do 2 things.

1) harvest "cull"/"management deer before the rut period occurs as an added tool to help improve the genetic makeup of the deer herd. This is more in place for High Fence ranches that have a little more control on the genetic side of things.

2.) To allow additional time to harvest the needed amount of does at the end of the season to meet the required quota. In some areas this can be done in October but, in many areas it would be somewhat hard to expect a land owner to decrease his fawns odds of survival by shooting the doe early in the season. Remember in South Texas we still have some fawns with spots.


Part of the reason that the MLD things gets frowned upon is when you see 250-270" deer harvested in velvet. They are obviously trophy hunting. What you are seeing is the system being somewhat manipulated through a loop hole. Now, they will never be able to classify what a cull/management buck is because that is up to the individual ranch and land owner.

I personally think it is crazy to shoot a deer like that before he has that additional chance to pass those incredible genetics on. They do it because there is a large chance of a deer with many points to break something simply by rubbing a tree or worse by going through the rut.

Now, like I said there is nothing wrong with what they are doing but, most of us disagree with it. Now, I do not think there is anything wrong with bowhunting these animals. October is archery season. This is just my personal feelings.


I also think there is somewhat of a difference on a low fence place although I still prescribe personally to the fact that bow season is bow season. I am not saying that if I had a rifle and 200" deer walked out and I had a rifle that I 100% would not shoot him but..............


Maybe the little explanation will help those that think they need MLD's so they can rifle hunt earlier. Trophy hunting is not what the system is all about. MLD's are a tremendous amount of work and a lot of responsibility. Not every place needs them and more places need them for does than anything. MLD's are not just a ticket to shoot all the deer you want for an extended period of time!!

[Bily Lovec]

its a great program for managing.

shooting trophies in october with a rifle is wrong, and NOT in the spirit of the law.
if the big buck contests wouldnt recoginize rifle kills prior to regular gun season, 99% of it would stop immediately...
I guarantee ya that is the problem most people have with the program.


great post.

[bowhuntntxn]

i agree that it was designed to me a wonderful MANAGEMENT tool for ranches to make huge differences in their population in a short time. however, like bily said, that is not how it is being used in some cases. and i personally dont get the " glamour" of winning a big deer contest, when the animal came from a place designed to produce big deer. which is better, the hunter who squeezed the trigger, or the ranch and its management/feeding program???? seems like the state could regulate the "management" of horned deer better than they do IMO.

[ronny]

Good post qzilla.

[mesquitecountry]

great post quad!

[aironeout]

Very informative post. My brother purchased a ranch last year that is on a MLDIII program so this is our second year to hunt it. I too disagree with what some of the ranches are doing as far as taking their top quality deer. I can honestly say that last year we did not take what I call a "trophy" until november (after the flyover) with the exception of the 153" class 8 that is in my avatar and that was actually a mistake. We both thought the deer was 4.5-5.5 and he turned out to be 3.5. Could we have had the next "heartattack"? We don't know and never will. So far this year we have taken a 115" 5.5 year old 9pt., a 125" 5.5 year old 8 pt., a 145" class 7.5+ year old 9 pt., and another mistake by my nephew on a 1.5 year old extremely small 8pt. , and about 12 does from when my nephew had several of his college buddies down a couple of weeks ago. Personally I have passed on several mature/over mature does that had faws who have had spots. As far as shooting the late season does, if we have a particular buck that we consider a "breeder" and he is known to be in a particular area we will make it off limits to shoot any does in this particular area.

>E

[JimN]

good post and I agree with your ideas.

[Luck_of_the_Draw]

My sentiments exactly.

[twperdue]

In an MLD situation (which we are on Level 3), we harvest all classes of deer and yes, some are trophies. The trophies are 5.5 or older and have had plenty of time to pass their genetics on. They are usually taken at the beginning of the season so the antlers are not damaged from fighting. On our ranch, the bucks are harvested with rifles, bows and muzzleloaders (I personally like a muzzleloader) by family and friends. Our clients are to use rifle only. The MLD permits are an excellent tool for good management. Our philosophy is not to win any contest, but to improve the herd year after year.

[Jhunter]

I hunt a low fence property that is mld III. We get 22 tags. 10 Buck and 12 doe. We try and fill our doe tags in October and would rather take trophies later in the season but we agree that if the big one steps out he will be shot. People who believe that shooting a trophy buck with a bow in October is different than shooting a trophy in October with a rifle please quit kidding yourself. Dead is dead. I also don't understand why most bowhunters hate rifle hunting. It cracks me up.

[KingsX]

The MLD has been manipulated and misused.
I think the State needs to clarify a trophy or make some extra rules to this program and stick to it like they have done in antler restricted counties.
I believe in the managing but do not believe in this extended season BS thats just an excuse for several reasons to get the gun out early!
I believe all these "Management practices" could be done just as easy during the regular season if you ask me.
Carry on!

[KingsX]

I hunt a low fence property that is mld III. We get 22 tags. 10 Buck and 12 doe. We try and fill our doe tags in October and would rather take trophies later in the season but we agree that if the big one steps out he will be shot. People who believe that shooting a trophy buck with a bow in October is different than shooting a trophy in October with a rifle please quit kidding yourself. Dead is dead. I also don't understand why most bowhunters hate rifle hunting. It cracks me up.

If you were a die hard bowhunter you would understand.
Dead is Dead and a 5 year old knows that but a bowhunter competing with a rifle hunter in what was supposed to be "Bowseason" is not fair and should not be allowed.
Shooting a trophy with a bow at 20 yards is allot different than watching a 500 yard circle of property just waiting for the chance to get a 300 yard shot with a gun "Sounds like competition to me" and not a very fair one!

[mesquitecountry]

If you were a die hard bowhunter you would understand.
Dead is Dead and a 5 year old knows that but a bowhunter competing with a rifle hunter in what was supposed to be "Bowseason" is not fair and should not be allowed.
Shooting a trophy with a bow at 20 yards is allot different than watching a 500 yard circle of property just waiting for the chance to get a 300 yard shot with a gun "Sounds like competition to me" and not a very fair one!

I'm not arguing with you again but if you're property is bowhunted and your neighbor is MLD then that's just how the dice rolls. Most MLD is high fence anyway. So just how would that effect bowhunters? If you dont want your placed MLD or high fence dont bash others that do. They dont effect your hunting. I mean a 5 year old knows the difference!

[Grayson]

Excellent posts by Billy LoveC, bowhuntntxn and KingsX.

[LTH]

Thanks Quad...