MLD Permits, Their Use Good For Hunting

[Rotag]

I hope MLD will make more chances for me to hunt. I know it has happened once for me already.

[Chance Love]

MLD's have greatly increased my opportunities. Pretty much every buck I have shot in the last 5-7 years has been on an MLD ranch. Almost every ranch I guide for is on MLD. The hunters love it. It gives all of us more time to schedule hunts and to do the necessary culling. Somebody (I can't remember who) said something (in a negative tone) about the landowners and ranch employees were now using the permits to shoot the deer themselves instead of selling the hunts for them. Heck ya! On one ranch, we are pretty much a two-man operation. Can you imagine trying to sell hunts for 120 does and 50-60 cull bucks, on top of all the management and trophy hunts? It would be impossible. With a hunter, we are doing good to kill 2 does per sit. By ourselves, we can routinely kill 10+ per sit. It is just so much more efficient to do it ourselves. MLD gives us the ability to do the work that needs to be done. I see absolutely NO negatives with MLD ranches. I love it!

[Devin]

Come on, Thumper!

The hunting opportunities they thought they would provide are not happening.

Clearly wrong proven by many here.

My question is how many bowhunters using MLD permits feel that MLD permits have increased their hunting opportunities and hunting oportunities for new hunters?

Again, many opportunities from MLD's as proven by many here.

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.

An unbelievable drummed up story. Just like this one:

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.

Do you have a single fact to support your "greedy, selfish landowner's abusing MLD's" theory you're aluding to? Or, is it only your speculation?

[Leo]

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).

I don't think the Bass family sells hunts on any of there properties. Only family and friends get to hunt on their ranches.

[Dusty]

I am sure that there are many ranches that have used the MLD program to great benefit i do know of one ranch (which shall remain nameless) that has been abusing the program for at least four years. The ranch owner doesn't lease his place he just brings in a few of his friends to hunt occasionally. The ranch foreman routinely shoots deer and leaves them for the buzzards. Once again I am NOT saying this is the norm or even remotely common I am just pointing out an example of it being abused. The program may need to be policed a little better to make sure that everything is on the up and up but that would require extra biologist/game wardens. Plus you have to keep in mind the golden rule "those that have the gold make the rules".

[LostHawg]

Depends on who you know I s'pose.

[Jamie]

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

Obviously, it has....so, what's your point again?

Envy is ignorance. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Mary]

Thumper...

You need to do more research and stop being so closed minded.

[LostHawg]

Mary, Thumpy'll never be open minded. Ain't his way.

[happy bowhunter]

The place i lease has used MLD permits the last three years,the biologist gives us x amount of tags and we use them,whether or not getting to kill more deer ourself or bring friends in to hunt,some of the people brought in to hunt didn't want to burn a buck tag on a spike,but when they found out they used the MLD permit instead they were more than happy to help out

[Chipper]

The ranch foreman routinely shoots deer and leaves them for the buzzards.

Why would you not call the game warden and alert him to this activity?

[Bill]

Devin,

The faces on those kids in the wheelchairs are great.

Bill

[Thumper]

Devin, Hot4huntin and many others need to be commended for their work on the youth and handicap hunts and its clear the MLD program is benefiting those hunts as well as others that have posted. It is a plus taking extra animals using MLD permits because its separate from the State bag limits.

I don't think I said one word about greedy landowners or anything about being envious. I can see both sides of most issues including this one. TPWD said they were seeing a "trend" and I'll have to agree, I do not hardly see any low cost entry level doe/meat hunts advertised in the paper like I did back before the MLD program. Chance gave a very good example of the "trend".

...... Can you imagine trying to sell hunts for 120 does and 50-60 cull bucks, on top of all the management and trophy hunts? It would be impossible. With a hunter, we are doing good to kill 2 does per sit. By ourselves, we can routinely kill 10+ per sit. It is just so much more efficient to do it ourselves.....

[GR5]

Thumper... You the MAN.. Its all about the dollar bill.

[Tmag]

I was blessed to go out last year because the lease hunters would not take their quota of does. I say let them walk and give me a call, I have friends who love to fill the freezers with your excess meat. Slick heads taste just like cockaded woodpecker.