By now you may have heard of the Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP) program? If not and you are interested in taking your deer herd management to the next level, then keep reading.
The MLDP program was created in the late 1990's by landowners desiring to more aggressively manage their deer herd through efficient and effective harvest methods. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department responded by creating a permit with three different levels of participation that allows landowners involved in a formal management program to have more flexible seasons and individual bag limits to best meet their goals and objectives. The program is incentive based and habitat focused.
Participation in the program begins with an approved written Wildlife Management Plan (WMP). Anyone may write the management plan but the local TPWD biologist for your area must approve it. There are three distinct levels of the program (Levels 1, 2 and 3) and each level has more stringent requirements. There is no fee for the program; however, some of the requirements may involve costs depending on the particular situation. MLDP permits are printed in Austin and mailed to the landowner or agent, so pre-printed permits are used instead of hunting license tags. In a nutshell, MLDP enrollment allows landowners extended hunt dates and flexible bag limits by allowing rifles to be used during any open deer season dates and removes the individual county-wide hunter bag limits and antler restrictions. This year, the MLDP rifle season began on September 27 and ends on February 28, 2015.
Here is a brief overview of the different levels included:
Level 1 offers liberalized antlerless only harvest opportunity for landowners in counties with restrictive antlerless harvest regulations or ranches with severe over-abundance of antlerless deer. County and statewide antlerless bag limits do not apply to individual hunters. Because bucks are not included under Level 1, all bucks harvested on the property must be tagged with appropriate hunting license tags and are restricted to the standard county-wide dates, bag limits and antler restrictions.
Requirements of Level 1 include the approved WMP, current year deer survey data and submission of standardized harvest data at the close of the hunting season.
Level 2 offers additional harvest flexibility, but requires active habitat and population management history. With Level 2 permits, landowners are allowed to harvest antlerless deer and spike bucks with any lawful means, including modern firearms from September 27 through February 28, 2015. Forked antlered bucks are still restricted to standard county-wide season and bag limits and archery stamps are not required while completion of the hunting license log and special antler restrictions do not apply.
Requirements of Level 2 include the approved WMP, proceeding years' survey data and standardized harvest data and the current year survey data and collection of standardized harvest data. The property must also identify at least two habitat management practices to be conducted on the property.
Level 3 offers maximum harvest flexibility for landowners and requires more habitat and herd management history. With Level 3 permits, landowners are allowed harvest of antlerless and any buck deer with any lawful means from September 27 through February 28, 2015. Completion of the hunting license log, county-wide bag limits, special antler restrictions and archery stamps do not apply.
Requirements of Level 3 include the approved WMP, two proceeding years of survey data and standardized harvest data in addition to the current years' survey data and collection of standardized harvest data. The property must also identify at least four habitat management practices to be conducted on the property.
The MLDP program is both flexible and generous for those properties wanting to take their management to the next level. The program allows managers to remove bucks with undesirable antler traits before breeding and provides extended time to remove the surplus numbers required to protect and enhance the habitat. Landowners may start at any level and progress through the levels as time and requirements are met. Survey data collection may include the extensive use of trail cameras supplemented with daylight observations, a designated spotlight route performed at least three different nights or a helicopter survey or a combination of each. Harvest data is collected throughout the season on standardized forms and must be submitted after the hunting season and before the stated deadline. The property may be high or low fenced and there are no acreage minimums, just as long as the property meets the requirements.
This program is very popular throughout the state and offers progressive landowners the maximum flexibility to manage the deer herd on their property. The results of the program have greatly enhanced not only the deer herds, but more importantly, the habitat that supports them.
