It seems that nothing ever really changes in the realm of Texas deer seasons. No real change in the length of the regular season (been pretty standard for years), the bag limits on deer (which for the most part has been the same since Moby Dick was a minnow), and the timing of the season (the first weekend in November-the weekend after January 1, unless January 1 falls on a weekend). Every once in a while, certain counties' seasons and bag limits change a bit, but if the MLD program works and gets the deer populations where they need to be, why aren't more of the MLD ideas incorporated into the general deer season which never seems to change very significantly?

Things have changed in my hunting lifetime (60+/- years), the license used to have only 1 buck tag and 2 doe tags but the landowners got a certain number of doe permits that had to be used in conjunction with the tag off the hunter's license. The LOs were extremely frugal with giving out those doe permits as they believed they needed to grow the numbers of the herd by not shooting enough does. There were no AR anywhere. I still remember season actually started the first Saturday following Nov. 16, never sooner. and season closed Jan. 1 whatever day of the week that fell on. My high school always played Llano the last game of the regular season, which was mid Nov. and my dad would pick me up from the game and we would head to the lease.

We thought it was great when they pushed it out to the Sunday after Jan. 1 unless Jan. 1 fell on a Sunday. And they then pulled the start back to the first Sat. in Nov. instead of after the 16th.

Those last changes were likely back in the 1970s, possibly early 1980s.

I had never heard of MLD or AR until about 15-20 or so years ago.

Yeah back in the day many of the LO's did not want does shot. They thought if they had a bunch of does on their place it would enhance getting it leased out. There was a time when finding a lease was pretty easy

simple hunting is built on a sustainability model, not true trophy. Current system proves sustainability. With that said, new online licenses is more about data collection than anything. For once we will have a more realistic view of county harvests.

While I wish all properties where MLD since its all ecology based, Id also be first to admit its not for everyone. No one should have to be that big of steward or ecologist to shoot a deer on their ranch.

Last major change I remember was upping the limit from 12 to 15 doves. Before that it was AR’s and adding does for legal harvest in east Texas counties when before it was by permit only or during archery season.

Wonder what the next major change will be?

I guess dont fix it if it aint broke.

YEP

If they don’t change the bag limit it shouldn’t be a negative to the deer population; which means they don’t want to devote that much time policing the longer season state wide IMO….

^^^^^

that reminds me ... Dove used to be a limit of 10 birds per day when I got started back in the mid 1960s. You only had the first 2 weeks of September to hunt and hunting hours were noon to sunset, no morning hunting allowed.

I still remember standing on a tank dam with my dad and a new to the area GW that stated sunset was a few minutes ago but we could still see the entire sun above the horizon. Dad told him (the GW) his time was from the Austin office and we were further west and the sun sets a bit later here.

I also remember not that long ago South Texas season started two weeks later than the rest of the state, then went for two weeks later. Now the whole state starts at the same time but South Texas Counties still get an additional two weeks. That was a pretty significant change.

Gosh, I’m feeling old! I remember when it was illegal to shoot any does!

Yep and deer season started on Nov 16, no matter what day of the week it was.

Leon County in the 60's 2 bucks only, then 2 bucks and does by permit, then 2 bucks and 2 does and then crashed to 1 buck and does by LAMPS permit only and then AR and does only the first 2 weeks of the season. Youth weekends early and late, muzzle loader season.

Shore seems like a lot of changes to old folks.

Why do you think some of these counties (like Leon) haven't seen the population explosions as elsewhere? We followed the no does, permits, then does pattern in Mills county but now we're 2 bucks /3 does and we're still overrun. When I started in 1977 is was unique to see a deer on a hunt, now it's a slow day if you don't see 6-8 or more on a sit.

In terms of population in counties like Leon, here is my opinion. 1) there are some property owners who do have an over population of deer, but these are the few larger land owners (1500+ acres) and rarely hunt, but have this much land for cattle 2) the population is generally in check or below capacity because of the large number of small properties (less than 200 acres) and some of these properties jam 4 hunters on a small property, shoot anything legal and it is therefore over-hunted 3) predator numbers are high. ****I am just N of Leon County in South Freestone County and found a land owner who leased (50) acres to 3 hunters-----ridiculous!!

AR's sure induced change. Really affected our ability to manage the mule deer bucks up in the panhandle. Just my .02 cents.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner from the above insight.

They said folks in Leon county were not shooting enough deer so they thru it open to 2 bucks and 2 does, no questions asked. Leon County sounded like a shooting range on opening weekend. Shortly after I could sit and not see a deer of either sex. Throw in some of the fine East Texas hunters who do not need a season to get some deer meat nor a limit, does not help managing the herd either.

Opening weekend this year I heard 2 shots, both a long ways off. My lessors shot a total of one buck, they pass on does which I cannot get them to shoot.

I have a buddy who is on a place that you're required to shoot at least one doe before you're allowed to take target bucks.

I believe you mean "lessees." (Not spelling...legal.)

Have hunted and owned land in Leon for 11 years now, and this is pretty well my exact observation. When I first started huntingthere, does could only be taken from thanksgiving day through that Sunday (4days). We are close to so,e properties that were split up years ago that are 20 and 30 acre tracts, and there are plenty of guns hunting there. Don’t let it fool you, there are pockets with a lot of deer. Very common to see 40+ In a green plot late in season.

Yep, you are correct on my spelling.

"I have a buddy who is on a place that you're required to shoot at least one doe before you're allowed to take target bucks." Changes are coming.

My maximum on seeing does was 6 at one time this year.
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Man everything changes, especially the Speckled Trout limit.

Remember reading A.C. Becker from the Galveston paper in the 60's and 100 specs from the Jetties in his reports.

When ya have more hunters than does ..it will most likely be shot out soon!!!

If MLD is the ultimate managing tool because TP&W tells you what to kill and how many to kill, why aren't more ideas from this program incorporated into the general season around the state? An example would be a change in the bag limit or the length of the season. What advantage does the state get out of the MLD program? If the only advantage is a better managed deer herd, why aren't they willing to use more of the ideas over the entire state?