New Changes to the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP)
Acres Number of Ranches MLDP Growth 1998-2016 30,000,000 Mule Deer Acreage 10,350 sites 6,000 25,000,000 Level 2 and 3 Acreage 5,000 Level 1 Acreage 20,000,000 Level 1 - # Ranches 4,000 15,000,000 Level 2, 3, and Mule Deer Ranches 3,000 10,000,000 813 sites 2,000 5,000,000 1,000 0 0
MLDP Changes Consolidate old programs Level 1, 2, 3 MLDP for white-tailed deer Mule Deer MLDP LAMPS New Managed Lands Deer Program Harvest Option Conservation Option
Land Management Assistance Application
General Requirements
General Requirements
General Requirements Deadline to withdraw from MLDP participation is Sept 15 of each year Must withdraw through the online account for the enrolled property
General Requirements Tags and Tagging Information Print your own tags Hunter must keep tag in legible condition Properly executed MLDP tag meet proof of sex requirements MLDP tags are valid only for the specific tract of land for which they are issued and only for the type of deer which they are issued
General Requirements Harvest Logs Log must be maintained on tract of land for which tags have been issued Hunter required to enter harvest in log on same day deer was killed Harvest log must be maintained until last day of tag validity (MLDP ending season date)
Reporting Requirements Number of bucks and antlerless deer harvested (Harvest and Conservation Option) Habitat management practices implemented (Conservation Option Only) April 1 deadline All reporting completed in LMA application (mandatory) Failure to report harvest will result removal from MLDP enrollment for the upcoming season
General Requirements Aggregate Properties Multiple landowners may combine contiguous low-fenced tracts of land to create an aggregate acreage for MLDP enrollment in the Harvest or Conservation Option Tags may be used on any tract of land in the aggregate Ranch 2 Ranch 1 Ranch 3
Harvest Option
Harvest Option Self Serve automated option Deer harvest recommendation / tag issuance General correspondence about wildlife and habitat management Does NOT require A wildlife management plan, deer population data, or habitat practices be conducted Or to work with a TPWD biologist Applicable to white-tailed deer only September 1 enrollment deadline
Harvest Option Tag Issuance antlerless only, buck only, antlerless & bucks One-time issuance, cannot be adjusted Buck harvest recs include Tags to be used on any buck Tags to be used only on bucks with at least one unbranched antler Equivalent number of MLD tags will be issued for the number of breeder deer released on a property during the previous 2 years
2017 Season Dates Antlerless Deer Harvest Option September 30, 2017 February 28, 2018 Any legal means Buck Deer September 30, 2017 November 3, 2017 Bucks with at least one unbranched antler may be taken with any lawful means, including modern firearms Any buck may be taken with lawful archery equipment September 30, 2017 February 28, 2018 Any legal means
Conservation Option
Conservation Option Department-approved wildlife management plan (WMP) required Entry Requirements Deer population data for immediate two preceding years Number of bucks and does harvested for immediate two preceding years Two department-approved habitat management practices conducted in each year of the immediate two preceding years June 15 application deadline
Conservation Option Requirements for continuing participation Current year deer population data Report deer harvest data for the current season Implement three habitat management practices each year specified in the WMP Supplemental feed is not included as a habitat management practice Required to allow site visits by TPWD staff to assess habitat management practices and provide recommendations
Conservation Option Wildlife Management Association Single WMP addressing all tract of lands in WMA WMA may choose tags for Antlerless only or Buck & Antlerless All members receive the same type of tags Tags issued to each individual property and valid only for that property All members must report (April 1 deadline) Bucks and does harvest Any habitat practices conducted on the property
Conservation Option Aggregate Properties (contiguous / low fence only) Requires a single WMP that address all tracts in the aggregate acreage Aggregate property as a whole must meet the MLDP requirements (deer data / habitat practices) and report harvest and habitat data Tags issued for buck and antlerless deer Single POC must be designated for the aggregate acreage
Conservation Option 2017 Season Dates White-tailed Deer September 30, 2017 February 28, 2018 Any legal means Mule Deer September 30, 2017 November 3, 2018 Antlerless and buck deer by archery only November 4, 2017 January 28, 2018 Antlerless and buck deer by any legal means
Questions
Why Change MLDP? 80 TPWD staff 10,250 MLDP properties Limits ability to provide meaningful technical guidance Need to focus technical guidance efforts on those seeking/needing site specific recommendations Still provide deer tags / season and general correspondence to those seeking less assistance from TPWD MLD Program needed to be simplified
Denial for MLDP Enrollment Failure to meet reporting deadline requirements Exceeding total harvest recommendation Failing to implement three habitat practices specified in the WMP in the Conservation Option Violations that would results in denial of other deer permits (TTT, DMP, Breeder)