Dear Valued Customer,
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is considering proposed changes to the Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP) and the Landowner Assisted Management Permitting System (LAMPS) programs. The Department is taking this opportunity to inform current and previous MLDP and LAMPS participants of those proposed changes.
The current MLDP program has been in effect since 1996 for white-tailed deer and 2005 for mule deer, and has been a very successful tool for encouraging deer harvest, deer management, and habitat conservation. Participation in the MLDP program has expanded from approximately 800 properties and 3 million acres in 1998 to 10,000 properties and 24 million acres in 2014. The LAMPS program has approximately 1,900 participants encompassing about 2 million acres. Substantial growth in the program during the last 18 years, the gradual accumulation of changes to program rules over time, and requests for modernization by program participants has prompted the Department to explore options to simplify MLDP, create new administrative efficiencies, and focus efforts on those seeking site-specific wildlife and habitat management assistance. At the same time, we intend to accommodate landowners who are not necessarily seeking technical assistance, but need flexibility to manage deer harvest.
The Department is proposing to combine the current LAMPS program and White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer MLDP programs into a new Managed Lands Deer Program consisting of two options: Conservation Option and Harvest Option.
The Conservation Option is designed to be a more intensive habitat-management focused option whereby participants are seeking customized site-specific habitat and harvest recommendations and one-on-one interaction with TPWD biologists. This option would allow for the harvest of antlerless and buck white-tailed deer by any legal means, including firearm, from the Saturday closest to September 30 through the last day of February. Harvest of antlerless and buck mule deer with archery only equipment would be allowed from the Saturday closest to September 30 for 35 consecutive days. Harvest of mule deer by any legal means, including firearms, would be allowed from the first Saturday in November through the last Sunday in January. Deer population and deer harvest data provided by the participant, and completion of habitat management practices described in a Department-approved wildlife management plan would be required for entry into the Conservation Option as well as continued annual participation. The Conservation Option would also contain a provision to allow Wildlife Management Cooperatives or Associations to participate and receive tag issuance for antlerless only or either sex.
The Harvest Option is designed to be an automated system to administer tag issuance, harvest recommendations, and general correspondence regarding wildlife and habitat management to participants with minimal oversight by TPWD biologists. The Harvest Option would be applicable only to white-tailed deer. Harvest recommendations for a property would be determined using a formula that takes into account TPWD Resource Management Unit (RMU) deer population data, types and amounts of habitat on the property, and any other information the Department deems relevant. Harvest of antlerless and buck deer with at least one unbranched antler would be allowed by any legal means, including firearms, from the Saturday closest September 30 to the last day in February, and the harvest of any buck with archery equipment from the Saturday closest to September 30 for 35 consecutive days. The harvest of any buck by any legal means, including firearms, would be allowed from the first Saturday in November through the last day in February. Both the Conservation and Harvest options would require all reporting to be completed electronically via Texas Wildlife Information Management Services (TWIMS). If adopted proposed changes would not be effective until May 2017.
To view the full proposal or provide public comment on the proposed changes please visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feed...ublic_comment/ . The public comment period will be July 17, 2015 through August 18, 2015. We will appreciate receiving your feedback!
Sincerely,
Alan Cain
White-tailed Deer Program Leader
Thoughts?
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is considering proposed changes to the Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP) and the Landowner Assisted Management Permitting System (LAMPS) programs. The Department is taking this opportunity to inform current and previous MLDP and LAMPS participants of those proposed changes.
The current MLDP program has been in effect since 1996 for white-tailed deer and 2005 for mule deer, and has been a very successful tool for encouraging deer harvest, deer management, and habitat conservation. Participation in the MLDP program has expanded from approximately 800 properties and 3 million acres in 1998 to 10,000 properties and 24 million acres in 2014. The LAMPS program has approximately 1,900 participants encompassing about 2 million acres. Substantial growth in the program during the last 18 years, the gradual accumulation of changes to program rules over time, and requests for modernization by program participants has prompted the Department to explore options to simplify MLDP, create new administrative efficiencies, and focus efforts on those seeking site-specific wildlife and habitat management assistance. At the same time, we intend to accommodate landowners who are not necessarily seeking technical assistance, but need flexibility to manage deer harvest.
The Department is proposing to combine the current LAMPS program and White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer MLDP programs into a new Managed Lands Deer Program consisting of two options: Conservation Option and Harvest Option.
The Conservation Option is designed to be a more intensive habitat-management focused option whereby participants are seeking customized site-specific habitat and harvest recommendations and one-on-one interaction with TPWD biologists. This option would allow for the harvest of antlerless and buck white-tailed deer by any legal means, including firearm, from the Saturday closest to September 30 through the last day of February. Harvest of antlerless and buck mule deer with archery only equipment would be allowed from the Saturday closest to September 30 for 35 consecutive days. Harvest of mule deer by any legal means, including firearms, would be allowed from the first Saturday in November through the last Sunday in January. Deer population and deer harvest data provided by the participant, and completion of habitat management practices described in a Department-approved wildlife management plan would be required for entry into the Conservation Option as well as continued annual participation. The Conservation Option would also contain a provision to allow Wildlife Management Cooperatives or Associations to participate and receive tag issuance for antlerless only or either sex.
The Harvest Option is designed to be an automated system to administer tag issuance, harvest recommendations, and general correspondence regarding wildlife and habitat management to participants with minimal oversight by TPWD biologists. The Harvest Option would be applicable only to white-tailed deer. Harvest recommendations for a property would be determined using a formula that takes into account TPWD Resource Management Unit (RMU) deer population data, types and amounts of habitat on the property, and any other information the Department deems relevant. Harvest of antlerless and buck deer with at least one unbranched antler would be allowed by any legal means, including firearms, from the Saturday closest September 30 to the last day in February, and the harvest of any buck with archery equipment from the Saturday closest to September 30 for 35 consecutive days. The harvest of any buck by any legal means, including firearms, would be allowed from the first Saturday in November through the last day in February. Both the Conservation and Harvest options would require all reporting to be completed electronically via Texas Wildlife Information Management Services (TWIMS). If adopted proposed changes would not be effective until May 2017.
To view the full proposal or provide public comment on the proposed changes please visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feed...ublic_comment/ . The public comment period will be July 17, 2015 through August 18, 2015. We will appreciate receiving your feedback!
Sincerely,
Alan Cain
White-tailed Deer Program Leader
Thoughts?
Comment