I'm not sure. I've never had a chance to speak to them. And the fact of the matter is, whether they're on MLD or not, they could still be getting the advantages of what we're doing. And we know and understnad that.

It's family owned.

And not complaining about the cost, and like I said before, it's not all about killing huge deer for me. I'm saying that MLD is worth it on some places and other places it's not, depending on how much control and land you've got.

txshtr I don't post very often but this is probably the best discussion I have seen on this site. Be real careful on going with MLD in someways it is a very good program. If every lease member and more importantly the property owner is not 100% comitted it can cause problems. One of my leases is and has been under an owner dictated MLD3 program for several years now and it is extreamly difficult to operate.

From what I have read here I think a program or two below MLD3 may just work best for you. All that said sounds like you have an outstanding lease going at present don't get to tunnel visioned on trophy bucks that you loose what is working for you as is.

Oh if you ever need another member sounds like somwthing one would be proud to participate in.

I am going to check into some of the programs and look more into what MLD programs, maybe lvl I or II have to offer and how they might relate to our lease. I still think there is a possibility that we could get advice from the local biologist, do better surveys and make more educated decisions without changing the structure of the lease.

I can tell you that we wouldn't do anything without the ranch manager on board fully. You wouldn't believe how many discussions, like this one, that we have had. He is open to alot of things and has his mind set on others. We were college roomates, so we are pretty close friends.

Usually, we have 1-2 openings a year on the lease. I will keep you in mind for sure. I would say half the guys on the lease are there for the dove hunting, turkey hunting or a good place to take the kids. They have leases in Illinois, the panhandle, Kansas or Colorado. Usually on a weekend there are around 8 or so of us that have the run of the place.

You can't just jump into MLD 3. I think you either have to start in 1 or 2 depending on what survey info you have,harvest data etc.Being in the program is free, however, you will have to put in more work.

We have been in the MLD program since the day it has started. Our place is solid Oak trees so driving transect lines for spot light surveys doesn't work. We sit in the blinds during the off season and perform "blind" counts. Some people are able to do the spot light surveys and I think they require at least 3. Other places use a Helo to perform the count. Also, there are habitat/ranch management practices that you have to work on to stay in the program(i.e. supplemental feeding,rotational grazing,preditor control,brush management,water etc... These help improve the ranch which makes a healthier environment. Depending on the number of deer you have to shoot can become work as well, especially finding homes for the meat. We use hunters for the hungry that is an awesome program.

I think your on the right track by talking with the local biologist. Its free advice and they will help formulate a long term plan. Like mentioned before, everyone will have to be on board with the program. If not, there will only be a select few who will have to pick up the slack. Wish ya Luck!

Thanks Tye...your information has been great along with the others

Wanna truly "improve genetics"? Kill everything on the ranch, high fence it and introduce a genetic strain of does/ bucks of your preference.

Culling bucks of "inferior genetics" might help but there are does carrying the same-- it would be impossible to know which are the "good" and which are "bad".

That is why we kill as many as we can and hope for the best

If that profile pic is one of the bucks from that property, you have nothing to worry about.