Wildlife Management

What is the wildlife management valuation?

Wildlife management valuation allows Texas landowners to maintain their property tax savings while shifting from traditional agricultural use (cattle, hay, crops) to managing land for native wildlife habitat. It's not a separate exemption - it's an alternative qualifying use under the same 1-d-1 special valuation.

This is ideal for landowners whose property is better suited to wildlife than to traditional agriculture, or who want to transition away from active farming while keeping their tax benefits.

Who qualifies?

The key requirement is that your land must already have an agricultural (1-d-1) valuation. You cannot apply for wildlife management valuation on land that has never had an ag exemption. This is the most common misunderstanding - read our comparison of wildlife vs. ag exemptions for the full picture.

Beyond the prior ag requirement:

• You must implement at least 3 of 7 recognized wildlife management practices
• You must have an approved Wildlife Management Plan (Form PWD 885-W)
• Management activities must target native Texas wildlife species
• Most counties require annual activity reporting

The 7 management practices

Texas Parks and Wildlife recognizes these seven management practices. You must actively perform at least three:

1. Habitat control - Prescribed burns, selective brush management, native grass restoration, invasive species removal
2. Erosion control - Terracing, water bars, cover crop planting, riparian buffer maintenance
3. Predator management - Trapping, selective removal, or deterrent systems for feral hogs, coyotes, and other predators
4. Supplemental water - Wildlife waterers, pond maintenance, spring development, drip systems
5. Supplemental food - Food plots (native seed mixes preferred), protein feeders, mineral stations
6. Census counts - Trail cameras, spotlight surveys, point counts, track stations, harvest data collection
7. Shelter management - Nesting boxes (for bluebirds, wood ducks, bats), brush piles, roosting structures

The wildlife management plan

Your plan is a written document describing your property, the wildlife species you're targeting, and the specific management activities you'll conduct. Most landowners use Form PWD 885-W, available from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The plan should include:

• Property description and map
• Target species and current wildlife populations
• Which 3+ management practices you'll implement
• Specific activities and timelines for each practice
• Documentation methods (photos, logs, census data)

Many landowners hire a wildlife management consultant to help draft their plan, especially the first time. Consultants familiar with your county's appraisal district can tailor the plan to what reviewers expect to see.

How to apply

1. Verify you have an existing ag valuation. If you don't, you'll need to establish one first through traditional agricultural use.
2. Draft your Wildlife Management Plan using Form PWD 885-W or with a consultant's help.
3. File your application with your county appraisal district by April 30. Include the plan and a property map.
4. Document your activities throughout the year. Photos, dated logs, and census data are your evidence.

Common mistakes

• Applying without existing ag valuation. This is the number one reason for denial. The land must already qualify under 1-d-1.
• Only doing 2 practices. Three is the minimum. Some counties informally expect 4-5 for larger properties.
• Targeting non-native species. Axis deer, nilgai, and other exotics don't count as primary target species.
• Poor documentation. If you can't prove you did the work, it's as if you didn't. Keep dated photos, receipts, and activity logs.
• One-time efforts. Management must be ongoing, not a one-time brush clearing or single food plot that goes unmaintained.

Acreage considerations

Most counties use the same minimum acreage for wildlife management as they do for agricultural valuation - typically 10 acres. However, some counties have different thresholds. Fort Bend County, for example, requires 12.5 acres for wildlife management. Check your county's specific requirements.