Understanding Wildlife Management Valuation

Wildlife management valuation is one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — property tax tools available to Texas landowners. Under Section 23.51(7) of the Texas Tax Code, land that was previously appraised as agricultural can transition to wildlife management use while maintaining the same favorable tax treatment.

Think of it this way: instead of running cattle or growing crops to keep your agricultural valuation, you manage your land for the benefit of native wildlife. You still get taxed at the agricultural productivity rate — not market value. But instead of counting bales or head of cattle, you're implementing wildlife management practices.

This is particularly valuable for landowners who want to retire from active farming or ranching but keep their tax savings. It's also ideal for properties where traditional agriculture isn't practical — rocky terrain, cedar-heavy Hill Country land, or properties too close to suburban development for livestock operations.

The Critical Prerequisite: Prior Agricultural Valuation

This is the most important thing to understand about wildlife management valuation: you cannot apply directly. Your land must currently have, or have recently had, an agricultural (1-d-1) valuation. Wildlife management is a conversion, not a new application.

If your land is currently at market value, you'll need to first establish agricultural use, obtain an ag valuation, and then convert to wildlife management. This can take several years, which is why timing and planning are critical.

If you're buying land that currently has an ag valuation and you want to convert to wildlife, the transition should happen in your first year of ownership. Our team can guide you through this timing to avoid any gaps in valuation that could trigger rollback taxes.

The 7 Approved Management Practices

Texas law specifies seven wildlife management practices. You must actively implement at least 3 of these practices on your property each year. The practices are:

1. Habitat Control

Managing vegetation, brush, and land cover to create optimal wildlife habitat. This includes prescribed burning, brush management, native grass restoration, and invasive species removal. Habitat control is the most commonly selected practice because it has clear, visible impacts on your property.

2. Erosion Control

Preventing soil erosion to maintain habitat quality. This includes establishing ground cover, creating water bars, planting vegetation on slopes, and managing drainage patterns. Properties with streams, slopes, or bare soil areas can document erosion control activities throughout the year.

3. Predator Control

Managing predator populations to benefit target wildlife species. This practice involves documented efforts to control feral hogs, coyotes, or other predators that impact your target species. Note: this must be species-specific and documented, not general hunting.

4. Providing Supplemental Water

Installing and maintaining water sources for wildlife. Water troughs, ponds, drip systems, or guzzlers that provide reliable water access during dry periods. This is particularly important in Central and West Texas where natural water sources may be seasonal.

5. Providing Supplemental Food

Planting food plots, establishing native browse, or providing supplemental feed specifically for target wildlife species. Food plots of clover, winter wheat, or native forbs are common implementations.

6. Providing Shelter

Creating or maintaining cover structures, nesting boxes, brush piles, or other shelter for wildlife. This can include leaving dead timber, building nesting platforms, or creating warm-season cover areas.

7. Census/Population Counts

Conducting systematic wildlife population surveys. Camera trap surveys, spotlight counts, breeding bird surveys, and track stations are all valid census methods. This practice provides data that informs your other management decisions.

The Wildlife Management Plan

Your wildlife management plan is the cornerstone of your application. It's a written document that describes your property, identifies target species, outlines which practices you'll implement, and provides a timeline for activities throughout the year.

A strong management plan includes:

  • Property description — Acreage, location, terrain, vegetation types, water sources
  • Habitat assessment — Current condition of wildlife habitat on your property
  • Target species — Native wildlife species your management benefits (white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, songbirds, etc.)
  • Practice descriptions — Detailed explanation of your 3+ selected practices
  • Annual activity calendar — Month-by-month schedule of management activities
  • Documentation methods — How you'll record and evidence your activities

This is where professional preparation makes a significant difference. A generic template downloaded from the internet won't carry the same weight as a property-specific plan prepared with input from certified wildlife biologists. Our team works with biologists in your region to create plans that demonstrate genuine expertise and commitment to wildlife management.

Documentation: The Year-Round Requirement

Getting approved is only the beginning. Each year, you must document your management activities to maintain your valuation. Counties increasingly request annual reports showing what practices you performed, when, and the results.

Effective documentation includes:

  • Dated photographs of management activities (prescribed burns, food plots, water installations)
  • Census data from population surveys (camera trap photos with dates, count results)
  • Receipts for materials and services (seed, feed, fencing, biologist consultations)
  • Activity logs recording dates and descriptions of management work
  • Maps showing where activities occurred on your property

Our platform simplifies this by providing a year-round documentation system. Log activities, upload photos, and track your practice implementation — all organized in the format your county expects.

Common Reasons for Denial

Wildlife management applications face higher scrutiny than standard ag applications. Common denial reasons include:

  • Insufficient management plan — Generic or incomplete plans that don't demonstrate property-specific knowledge
  • Failure to implement practices — Claiming 3 practices but lacking evidence of actually performing them
  • No prior ag history — Attempting to apply without the required agricultural valuation prerequisite
  • Inadequate acreage — Most counties require at least 10 contiguous acres for wildlife management
  • Missing target species — Plans that don't identify specific native species being managed for

Why Expert Guidance Matters

Wildlife management exemptions have the highest denial rate of any agricultural valuation category in Texas. The management plan complexity, practice documentation requirements, and county-specific standards create multiple points of failure for DIY applications.

Our team has prepared hundreds of successful wildlife management applications. We know which practices work best in your region, how to structure your management plan for maximum impact, and what your county's appraisal district specifically looks for in their review.

With our mapping platform, we can assess your property's habitat quality before you invest a dollar. We know the terrain, the vegetation cover, the water sources, and the wildlife corridors — all critical data for a compelling management plan.

Ready to explore wildlife management for your property? Start with our free eligibility assessment. We'll tell you if conversion makes sense and outline exactly what you'll need.