MLD Permits, Their Use Good For Hunting

[DamonJ]

Well I am with some of the others here, if you need to have excess doe or culls removed, I am at your service.....8-)

I am sure that there are both pros and cons, but that is how it goes!

I could see using some of the deer in over populated areas as transplant animals in areas where there is not a good deer herd. Other than that I am sure the MLD permits are helping the ranches that are recieving them..

[Dave]

I remember reading about one ranch that got a special MLD permit to remove 1000 deer using any means they deemed necessary, even spot lighting and shooting from a helicopter.

This kind of hunting doesn't happen.

With a level 3 MLD permit you can begin hunting by and legal means on Oct 1 and hunt both antlerless and buck deer, but you can't break any laws in doing it and no TPWD biologist will tell you too.

[AtTheWall]

It's up to how the MLD owner manages their responsibility to meet the quota set forth. Some will leverage others to come in and help and others will simply do the killing themself if they slip the numbers. The closer to the end of the season, the more desperate some of these landowners get and that's when it gets dicey.

To coordinate hunts, manage the operation based on MLD requirements as well as internal management documentation, it's all based on how well the landowner deals with it. Some landowners are very concerned about legalities with injury on their properties (lawsuits etc.) so add managing a Hunting Contract into the mix as well for overall management/requirement for new hunters allowed in. Adding some of this up and mixing the day to day ranching needs, it can become overwhelming for some to manage and they lean on doing the work themselves.

I've enjoyed a few MLD hunts to date and the landowners that allow others to help I tip my hat off to them. Holding that permit means they must meet their goals set forth and it's a lot of work. I'm one that also feels that rifles used during Archery season isn't cool under the MLD program. I've seen that as well on many of the ranches down South and typically these guys are chasing the big deer contests, pay a lot of money to do so to get the edge on the competition. Others on that property that payed to hunt that place during the regular rifle season are now 2nd string. Once again it's the landowners call and their MLD permit standing which right now is legal but it does stink IMO. Weapons for the period should be adhered to. Archery is archery and rifle is rifle. Why should a few have the chance to hunt a month out with the wrong weapon for the season established?

[Jamie]

I could see using some of the deer in over populated areas as transplant animals in areas where there is not a good deer herd

.

While on the surface that idea sounds great...I think most biologist will tell you...that most areas that have suitable habitat are already at carrying capacity and if not...there's a reason why.

Pouring more deer into a situation like that is not biologically sensible.

Further, most biologist want to avoid some put-n-take scenario...where an area doesn't have enough deer because they've been over harvested...so, they dump more deer in there only to see them immediately shot. That's not biologically ethical.

[bowhuntertex]

I think the MLD programs work well if used properly, but I know of one place near Huntsville that is getting ready to have their MLD's yanked out from underneath them because they haven't since they got on the program. They have yet to harvest the amount of does they were suppose to and they have been shooting too many 3.5 year old bucks that were decent deer. Some people abuse the MLD to have more time to hunt the big one.

[AtTheWall]

MLD incurs work and responsibility first and foremost. Some may not get it at first but over time they will.

I love to see low fence places on MLD like the Capote Ranch (Wes's place). It's the best of both worlds and the work involved does help the overall county goals for that particular region and the quality of game has gotten way better. Wes is my hero

[shotgunsmitty]

To stay on topic, I say yes, I have seen the MLD program increase my bowhunting opportunities.

[Rudey]

I'm with Leggy.....

Thanks MLD!!!

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[Devin]

They've definitely increased our opportunity.

All MLD's WT's here:



While you do often see the Oct. 1 gun shot megabuck posted at Los Caz or some other Big Buck Contest, I do believe their good far far outweighs any perceived negative. On the large ranches that are properly managed utilizing MLD's, I don't think their intrusion into bow season or after the regular season is of concern.

[Devin]

MLD Whitetails here too:

[Hot4huntin]

This past weekend, I guided on the TGWA Youth Hunt and there were 10 young hunters that benefited from MLDs.

[Double L]

I was fortunate enough to get to use MLD tags at one point in my life. It was a managed piece of property and I really enjoyed getting to follow the rules and remove a few deer for the landowner. I never knew what I got to shoot until I arrived. Sometimes just does, sometime spikes and every once in a while a cull buck that met certain criteria. MLD's definitely increase my hunting opportunities until the ranch changed hands and my buddy wasn't the ranch manager any longer

[Thumper]

MLD's primary purpose is NOT to increase hunting opportunities...it's to reduce the deer population on a specific property. (MLD permits)

True but if you remember one of the selling points to get the MLD program approved was how it would increase hunting opportunities for hunters.

[Thumper]

If you were to research some of the Hunter for the Hungry Programs, as well as some local Food Banks, you will find that MLD permits have helped tremendously. Lots of families are provided for through the MLD program.

Mary I would agree with you, but isn't this mostly from landowners who are using the extra MLD permits themselves and not increased "hunting opportunities" with licensed hunters. I know two hi-fence operations that use their on MLD permits and that's how they utilize the game meat.

[Thumper]

"I remember reading about one ranch that got a special MLD permit to remove 1000 deer using any means they deemed necessary, even spot lighting and shooting from a helicopter. "

This kind of hunting doesn't happen.

Dave, I think it was Texasbowhunter who posted the link on the bowsite, I tried to find the link and could not. It was a pilot program where the ranch was given a permit to remove 1000 deer. Some were even trapped and relocated/sold to other ranches so I guess it wasn't really part of the MLD program but what caught my attention was licensed hunters were not required nor were they used. The ranch belonged to one of the Game Commissioners (Bass) who did not want the liability associated with low cost hunts(but was ok with the liability on trophy hunts). It also said something about his recommendation to charge a fee for MLD permits to raise additional funds for the TPWD.