Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

MLD and Management Questions

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    MLD and Management Questions

    Here is the scenario: Our property is 875 acres, low fenced, and this is our first year in MLD level 3. This will be our 3rd year to have this property. About two-thirds of the property was covered in Cedar when we got it, with some oak stands mixed in. Over the past 3 years, we have cleared over 100 acres of the cedars in mixed clearings of 2-5 acres each. All oaks were left standing. We have planted native wildlife grasses and forbs in the cleared areas, and they are all growing well.

    On the property to one side, there is limited hunting. There is some hunting pressure from the other side, but nothing out of reason.

    Over the past 3 years, we have only taken 7 deer, trying to allow the population to grow. My theory has been that the thick canopy of cedar made for poor habitat conditions, and that by opening it up we are increasing the amount of deer food. We have also been free choice protein feeding year round. Based on that, I believe the carrying capacity of the land is much greater than it was 3 years ago.

    Now, based on camera surveys, we have 40 bucks, 60 does, and 25 fawns (I believe those numbers are pretty accurate, but I think there are more fawns than that). That gives us a density of one adult deer per 8.75 acres. The TPWD biologist has issued us 12 buck tags and 18 doe tags, and they typically target a population density of 1 adult per 10 acres in that area. I believe with the habitat improvement and the protein feeding that we can support a higher population...I figure about 1 adult per 8 acres. My goal is to have as many deer as we can without hurting the habitat, and to focus on only harvesting does and mature bucks.

    I don't like the idea of taking bucks that are not mature, but I don't think we can kill 12 mature bucks off of the place.

    How would you approach all of this? How many bucks and does would you target?

    #2
    Then kill mature deer first then start cull inferior Genetic traits that are undesirable

    Comment


      #3
      I visited with our biologist about this very thing. He stated that if I went MLD that he would expect me to kill 75% of the doe we had tags for. In your case 14 doe.

      I did not get into the bucks as i do not think our place will ever be to that level.

      That being said you might have a conversation regarding his expectations on filling the tags. As, if you do not meet expectations you could be taken off MLD from my understanding.

      Good luck.

      Comment


        #4
        Im MLDP as well and I'm staying out of this one...
        But I will tell talk to your biologist and let him know what you are thinking. Most will "work" with you.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by J Wales View Post
          Here is the scenario: Our property is 875 acres, low fenced, and this is our first year in MLD level 3. This will be our 3rd year to have this property. About two-thirds of the property was covered in Cedar when we got it, with some oak stands mixed in. Over the past 3 years, we have cleared over 100 acres of the cedars in mixed clearings of 2-5 acres each. All oaks were left standing. We have planted native wildlife grasses and forbs in the cleared areas, and they are all growing well.

          On the property to one side, there is limited hunting. There is some hunting pressure from the other side, but nothing out of reason.

          Over the past 3 years, we have only taken 7 deer, trying to allow the population to grow. My theory has been that the thick canopy of cedar made for poor habitat conditions, and that by opening it up we are increasing the amount of deer food. We have also been free choice protein feeding year round. Based on that, I believe the carrying capacity of the land is much greater than it was 3 years ago.

          Now, based on camera surveys, we have 40 bucks, 60 does, and 25 fawns (I believe those numbers are pretty accurate, but I think there are more fawns than that). That gives us a density of one adult deer per 8.75 acres. The TPWD biologist has issued us 12 buck tags and 18 doe tags, and they typically target a population density of 1 adult per 10 acres in that area. I believe with the habitat improvement and the protein feeding that we can support a higher population...I figure about 1 adult per 8 acres. My goal is to have as many deer as we can without hurting the habitat, and to focus on only harvesting does and mature bucks.

          I don't like the idea of taking bucks that are not mature, but I don't think we can kill 12 mature bucks off of the place.

          How would you approach all of this? How many bucks and does would you target?
          With you acreage and deer density and number of MLD tags... You would take about 30% of the deer.

          We are more 10-13%.

          Not sure what is right or wrong.

          Comment


            #6
            I'd have this conversation with your biologist. We got 20 does and 8 bucks. He said take out as many does as possible (early) and shoot mature bucks or cull bucks. If you don't shoot all the bucks but your observation logs show you passed on immature bucks it won't be viewed as a negative. We have never harvested our buck recommendation and never had a problem. Just stick to mature bucks only or culls. Don't force yourselves into killing deer that need time.

            Comment


              #7
              I talked to the biologist a few minutes ago, and she said she would like us to use at least 60% of the doe tags. She is not as concerned on the buck numbers.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by HoustonHunter View Post
                I'd have this conversation with your biologist. We got 20 does and 8 bucks. He said take out as many does as possible (early) and shoot mature bucks or cull bucks. If you don't shoot all the bucks but your observation logs show you passed on immature bucks it won't be viewed as a negative. We have never harvested our buck recommendation and never had a problem. Just stick to mature bucks only or culls. Don't force yourselves into killing deer that need time.
                This has been my experience as well... I agree.

                Comment


                  #9
                  It's always a tough choice when it's your property and what your personal goals are in comparison to the biologist. It's an accounting problem for the biologist. Land + deer must equal 10/1. We can all have our opinions but it comes down to what your biologist will let you let walk and still stay under the MLD. Make the suggestion of culling all inferior bucks this year and your does and see if that's acceptable.

                  Keep us posted.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I was MLDP Level 3 for five years on my place in East Texas. We only used all our doe tags the first year. Never used all our buck tags. Never had a problem. BUT ( there's always a but ), my biologist retired and the new guy wouldn't make a scab on a biologist's *****. So, I looked at the pros and cons and decided that the only thing I would miss would be the ability to take a mature buck that wouldn't make AR, and I withdrew from the program. I hunt on a lease in Trinity Co. that just went to level 3, but thankfully, I'm just a spoke in that wheel, and I can deal with that.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Texifornia View Post
                      Im MLDP as well and I'm staying out of this one...
                      Come on, now!!! Don't hold back!

                      Comment


                        #12
                        You need to harvest bucks in all age classes if want a balance herd. 1-10 is optimum for trophy deer. You can handle more and will need to do browse surveys. Also you have to take into account your supplemental feeding. Your biologist is pretty liberal because we can not even get level 2 because we are not high fenced and we have a deer to 5 acres and 800 acres.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by mpotts View Post
                          Then kill mature deer first then start cull inferior Genetic traits that are undesirable
                          This.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            I would try and get pics of as many of your bucks as possible. Then class them by young (1-2 yo), middle (3-4 yo) and mature (5+ yo). I prolly would leave the young class alone unless there is something in there that is way "worse" than the rest of his class. In the other 2 classes, middle and mature, make a decision as to what you want more of and what you want less of. That would be the best way to determine what needs to be removed.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              If I were in your situation(I would love to be) I would do my best to take the doe number that he ask you to and leave the bucks alone unless a particular buck shows up. You have zero chance of changing your genetics, so the next best thing is letting the bucks get older/mature. Enjoy.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X