Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Managed Lands Deer Program Sees Widespread Success
Since its inception in 1998, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP) has evolved beyond early expectations, becoming a pivotal tool in statewide deer management efforts.
Initially perceived as a program catering primarily to “high fence” ranches, MLDP offered landowners and managers extended harvest opportunities, allowing for greater deer removal than traditional licenses permitted. This increased control has been instrumental in managing herd densities while promoting sustainable population dynamics.
Balancing Access and Population Control
Early criticism centered on hunters’ views that landowners should be more accessible to help manage deer numbers. However, from a wildlife management perspective, unrestricted hunter access can jeopardize selective harvesting strategies crucial to maintaining healthy age and sex structures in deer populations.
Before MLDP, some larger ranches operated with informal culling systems, where managers harvested deer quietly to control overpopulation—sometimes incurring legal penalties. The formalization of MLDP introduced regulated frameworks benefiting both landowners and wildlife.
Statewide Participation and Scale
Today, MLDP enrollment includes 11,258 management units covering 29,535,686 acres, roughly 25% of Texas’ deer habitat. According to Blaise Korzekwa, TPWD’s white-tailed deer program leader, the majority of these units represent individual properties, with around 900 being discrete high-fenced pastures.
During the 2024-25 season, 179,719 white-tailed deer were harvested under MLDP permits, accounting for approximately 24% of the overall statewide harvest estimated at 763,152 animals. This significant proportion highlights MLDP’s role in population regulation across diverse landscapes.
Extended Hunting Seasons and Management Options
The program extends hunting seasons from October through February, though harvest data from TPWD’s Big Game Harvest Survey indicates only about 10% of deer are taken before November. This extended timeframe supports more strategic harvests aligned with deer biology, such as antler development and breeding cycles.
MLDP now offers two participation categories for white-tailed deer:
- Harvest Option: Simplified participation, focusing mainly on regulated deer take.
- Conservation Option: A more comprehensive approach requiring population surveys, habitat management activities, and ongoing monitoring.
Conservation plans, especially on low-fence properties, facilitate ecological balance and improve habitat quality, factors crucial for sustaining resilient deer populations.
Additional reporting and sources from: Land Management: TPWD Deer Permit Program has been a big success statewide | Tyler Morning Telegraph
