MLD Negatives?

[jt400]

Been exploring the Harvest Option of the MLD Program so those of us who shoot doe can pick up the slack for those who don't. I know all of the positives but does anyone have any negatives to share as far as getting the government involved in your operations? Or anything else?

[lanceodom]

I am typically one to want less govt. involvement. That being said, I have been involved on MLD properties since 1998. I really dont have a bad thing to say. Our biologist is a straight shooter and very reasonable with our goals for management.

[Etxbuckman]

The worst thing, honestly, is sitting in a box blind in late September.

[M16]

Getting charged $300 when you do all the work and pay all the expenses.

[jt400]

Getting charged $300 when you do all the work and pay all the expenses.

I don't think I'd ever move out of the harvest program. As far as bucks goes our management plan works and I don't want to change it so the $300 deal would never be a thing.

[jdg13]

Been MLD for over 10 years now on my place in Weimar. Historically Colorado County was shot out with all the little tracts. If you wanted to shoot does, you went MLD or did archery only. I sit in a hot blind in August to count deer, do a couple of management practices (mowing, brush clearing, food plots, etc) , pay a new $30 fee (in a co-op), and get issued 2 doe tags based on "managing" my 50 acres. Then they add doe days. For a few days around Thanksgiving, the whole family can shoot does off of regular license tags, IF the land is not part of MLD. The reasoning is "there's too many does." Why not give the MLD guys more tags then instead of charging more money and letting everyone else who didn't put anything in reap the benefits? Point is, try to figure out how many tags you think you might get, when you normally hunt, and see if it's worth the time and effort.

[M16]

I don't think I'd ever move out of the harvest program. As far as bucks goes our management plan works and I don't want to change it so the $300 deal would never be a thing.

It’s about the principal not the $300.

[jt400]

Been MLD for over 10 years now on my place in Weimar. Historically Colorado County was shot out with all the little tracts. If you wanted to shoot does, you went MLD or did archery only. I sit in a hot blind in August to count deer, do a couple of management practices (mowing, brush clearing, food plots, etc) , pay a new $30 fee (in a co-op), and get issued 2 doe tags based on "managing" my 50 acres. Then they add doe days. For a few days around Thanksgiving, the whole family can shoot does off of regular license tags, IF the land is not part of MLD. The reasoning is "there's too many does." Why not give the MLD guys more tags then instead of charging more money and letting everyone else who didn't put anything in reap the benefits? Point is, try to figure out how many tags you think you might get, when you normally hunt, and see if it's worth the time and effort.

They would give us more than the landowner lets us take. It would be so guys could shoot 5 or 6 to make up for other guys shooting none. We never shoot enough yet some of us would shoot more if we had more tags on our license.

[Drycreek3189]

When TPWD went to the new scheme MLD made no sense to me. They gave me one doe permit on 217 acres. The years prior they wanted me to kill five does. They have no clue what they’re doing IMO.

[jt400]

It’s about the principal not the $300.

You have to do all of your own surveys now right?

[jdg13]

They would give us more than the landowner lets us take. It would be so guys could shoot 5 or 6 to make up for other guys shooting none. We never shoot enough yet some of us would shoot more if we had more tags on our license.

Sounds like it might actually be a decent fit for you. Good luck. Remember you have to keep a harvest log at camp in case the possum cop shows up. I'd make the other guys do all the work too.

[S-3 Ranch]

My biologist on my old place in Webb county always played games with the permits, stuff like y’all can’t shoot trophy till X amount of does and culls are killed, other than that I loved it
Wish we were in the program out west

[M16]

You have to do all of your own surveys now right?

I have always done the surveys and have a private biologist. He submits the data and the state biologist rubber stamps it and issues the tags.

[jt400]

My biologist on my old place in Webb county always played games with the permits, stuff like y’all can’t shoot trophy till X amount of does and culls are killed, other than that I loved it
Wish we were in the program out west

I wouldn't plan on moving out of the harvest program so no biologist involvement.

[Hoss163]

The negative can be they issue you only x amount of tags . And your property may need more then that harvested off of it .