The TP&W know that landowners could run the whitetail in this state if they really wanted to. And this is the main reason why the state leaves the landowners alone and lets them do what they want and gives them want they want
What is running them now with high fences? Who's controlling the deer and the breeding? As far as the 'cost' to feed free ranging deer? Would you like to explain how that costs the land owner? If a landowner doesn't put one red cent toward feeding and watering deer, I guess the deer would just die because they couldn't fend for themselves. Most of the private land in Texas is not agricultural and the natural vegetation that the deer have used to become the largest deer population in the US did not cost the land owners anything. But whatever spin they want to use to justify their free use and profit of a Texas state resource.
Importing deer cost alot of money and is a real pain in the butt because its a never ending cycle of putting money into the program and the amount of paper work required is insane.
Importing deer from out of state is what they have curtailed. Not the in-state sale and trade.
You seem to do most of your hunting on fenced land and that's fine. There is another form of hunting that some people actually enjoy and hate to see disappear. There are some large land owners on the TPWD board. If you read the news, you will recall somewhat of a scandal not too long ago where some politicians and connected people were getting deer stocked on their land for free.