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Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
#4462282
08/09/13 11:15 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123
Chuckybrown
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123 |
I've been on a low fence, 1800 acre MLD III place for 13 years now. It's located in Navarro county, east of Corsicana. It's alot of work, but we've got a stable group of hunters (12), and our we've really seen good management practices produce nice deer. We're in the middle of our counts/surveys right now. The night counts using spotlights are my favorite. We're seeing some REALLY good bucks right now, and in big bachelor groups. Hopefully this means our doe to buck ratio is coming down. Last year we were issued 21 buck tags, and 46 doe tags. We turned back in 11 buck tags, and if memory serves, 28 doe tags. When comparing to other MLD III ranches, our tag to harvest % was slightly better than average. Here's a nice 4 1/2 year old mainframe 8 that was taken last year. The picture doesn't do it justice. He was just over 17" wide. His mainbeams were over 5" in diameter at his G2's. The rack was really tall. He tipped the scale at 168lbs in January, so he was bigger pre-rut. A very above average buck for this area. Plus, we've got neighbors that seem to live by the "if it's brown, it's down" rule. (We found a dead 2.5 year old 8 pt. last year that wasn't even 12" wide. He had been shot and ran onto our place. Sad.) So, if you're on an MLD property, share your story!
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Chuckybrown]
#4462411
08/09/13 12:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 947
JMalin
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 947 |
not seeing 5 inches in circumference at the G2, much less diameter. I've never seen a deer with a 15 inch mass measurement at a single point on any any whitetail frame. Sorry for bustin you on what was most likely an honest mistake.
I don't think the biologist in our area would be too thrilled if we turned back in that many tags. I'm betting he'd question our dedication to the program.
Last edited by JMalin; 08/09/13 12:43 PM.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: JMalin]
#4462537
08/09/13 01:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,574
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,574 |
Cool buck.
Is 168 a live or dressed weight?
Im sure you meant 5 inch circumference, not diameter.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: redchevy]
#4462900
08/09/13 03:24 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123
Chuckybrown
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123 |
Correct....circumference.
168 was pre-dressed weight.
Last edited by Chuckybrown; 08/09/13 03:30 PM.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Chuckybrown]
#4462913
08/09/13 03:29 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123
Chuckybrown
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123 |
JMalin.....regarding tags, we have a solid relationship with our biologist. And if you will re-read my post...our tag-to-harvest ratio was ABOVE average for all MLD'S in the area last year.
Regarding the 5" circumference, I have no reason to lie.
Last edited by Chuckybrown; 08/09/13 04:37 PM.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Chuckybrown]
#4463067
08/09/13 04:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,574
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,574 |
I always thought not filling the provided tags would lead to getting the boot from the program?
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: redchevy]
#4463130
08/09/13 04:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123
Chuckybrown
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123 |
I always thought not filling the provided tags would lead to getting the boot from the program? In the beginning (late 90's) we thought that as well. But that's not the case. Today, we conduct our annual census and turn that over to the biologist. He comes back with the tag counts. We all know that you cannot force deer to show themselves. We had an OVER abundant acorn crop last year, and the deer stayed in cover. We had weekends where I'd hunt almost all day, and see little deer traffic. In fact, we log the hours in the blinds. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but during our five month season, there was a hunter(s) in a blind somewhere on the ranch 33% of the time. We hunted hard last year. But, you cannot make the animals walk out in front of you. This year our cameras are capturing more deer eating corn at the feeders than I've seen in years. Why? Yup.....no acorns....so I'm betting our harvest numbers will be way up.
Last edited by Chuckybrown; 08/09/13 04:38 PM.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: redchevy]
#4463158
08/09/13 04:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 367
EastTexun
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 367 |
I always thought not filling the provided tags would lead to getting the boot from the program? How the biologist explained it to me is that the tags he gave us was the maximum amount of deer he wanted to be shot, not necessarily the exact number. I was low on our doe harvest this year due to back surgery and the biologist didn't care. Interesting enough, he explained that in TPWDs eyes, they are getting landowners to be better stewards of the land (through herd and land management) by using extra deer tags and extended seasons as a "carrot".
Having said that, shot placement is key and there is only one level of dead. Us east Texans can't afford turquoise and elk ivories for jewelry. So we use hog tushes and coon peckers.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: EastTexun]
#4463169
08/09/13 04:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 367
EastTexun
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 367 |
Nice buck CB. The coloration of the antlers on that buck look strikingly similar to the ones on our ranch in northern Houston County. Most of the bucks we kill have antlers that have that mottled look with very dark bases.
Are yall doing any protein or food plots out there?
Having said that, shot placement is key and there is only one level of dead. Us east Texans can't afford turquoise and elk ivories for jewelry. So we use hog tushes and coon peckers.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Chuckybrown]
#4463187
08/09/13 05:00 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
JMalin.....regarding tags, we have a solid relationship with our biologist. And if you will re-read my post...our tag-to-harvest ratio was ABOVE average for all MLD'S in the area last year.
Regarding the 5" circumference, I have no reason to lie. Along with having you take jaw bones, harvest reports and incidental sightings ,they should quote you a maximum and a minimum harvest number...which you will find out all biologist have their different approaches to their job... the one I use to work expressed how important meeting our minimum was which was 25 bucks and 40 doe... if not within reason we could be dropped down to level 2. I had no problem with how strict they were being about that also because I lived on this ranch and saw how many deer were really there...and if it wasn't for that the owner prolly wouldn't have approved shooting that many animals..
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Navasot]
#4463191
08/09/13 05:01 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Oh and nice buck by the way!
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Navasot]
#4463210
08/09/13 05:10 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,574
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,574 |
Nav, is there a minimum property size to apply? We do most of this anyways.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: redchevy]
#4463238
08/09/13 05:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,005
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,005 |
Nav, is there a minimum property size to apply? We do most of this anyways. I think it's 300 acres but they may have changed it
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: redchevy]
#4463640
08/09/13 08:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 367
EastTexun
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 367 |
Nav, is there a minimum property size to apply? We do most of this anyways. Just call your biologist in your local area. Its probably almost too late for this season (most are doing their counts right now) but you never know. You can get in with less than 300 in ETX, but I don't know about down south
Having said that, shot placement is key and there is only one level of dead. Us east Texans can't afford turquoise and elk ivories for jewelry. So we use hog tushes and coon peckers.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: redchevy]
#4463678
08/09/13 08:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,484
BowSlayer
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,484 |
Nav, is there a minimum property size to apply? We do most of this anyways. When we entered the program they told us 1000 acres.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: BowSlayer]
#4463804
08/09/13 09:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,756
ccoker
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,756 |
We hunt MLDIII property Can't wait for season to start
The old ranch manager didn't allow us to shoot probably 1/2 the tags he was given.
New manager is working much better (actually working!) with TPWD
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: redchevy]
#4465385
08/10/13 01:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Nav, is there a minimum property size to apply? We do most of this anyways. It depends on were your at and the deer population along with carry capacity your area can hold. iv seen places as small as 250 acres on it. You can also join neighboring properties to reach a larger requirement
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Navasot]
#4490664
08/19/13 01:32 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123
Chuckybrown
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 123 |
JMalin, here's a little 'ol buck that my camera captured a week or so ago..... Not bad for an East Texas buck....
Last edited by Chuckybrown; 08/19/13 01:32 AM.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Chuckybrown]
#4491855
08/19/13 02:41 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 521
NTX270
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 521 |
here's some MLD 3 east texas deer. By body weight, I think this is the biggest one I have on cam this year: Group pics make for a better comparison:
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: NTX270]
#4493554
08/20/13 01:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,663
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,663 |
That's a nice buck. It all depends on the acreage and density. We turn back in tags every year and no big deal.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Chuckybrown]
#4494488
08/20/13 11:40 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 947
JMalin
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 947 |
JMalin, here's a little 'ol buck that my camera captured a week or so ago..... Not bad for an East Texas buck.... Nice deer. Better than anything I have to work with. Hopefully we'll have a couple like that in the coming years.
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: JMalin]
#4495867
08/20/13 07:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 738
Sprman
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 738 |
Hunt MLD III in Polk county!!
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Sprman]
#4495891
08/20/13 07:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: Navasot]
#4495956
08/20/13 07:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,135
landsurveyor
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,135 |
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Re: Any Other MLD III Hunters Out There?
[Re: landsurveyor]
#4495983
08/20/13 08:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
I hunted several MLD leases up until about 5 yrs ago.
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