Exotic Animal Qualification: Under Texas Tax Code §23.51(2) as amended by HB 2197, exotic animals qualify for 1-d-1 agricultural appraisal when raised for sale, breeding, or hunting. The property must maintain high game-proof fencing (minimum 8 ft) and demonstrate commercial-level herd management. Rains County applies similar intensity standards as cattle operations.
03 Exotic Animal Use History
Year
Herd Size
Activities
Sales/Hunts
Qualifies?
2019
22
Installed 8-ft game fence (perimeter); purchased founding herd of 18 axis + 4 blackbuck
0 (startup year)
✓ Yes
2020
34
First fawn crop (14 animals); supplemental feeders installed; veterinary program started
2 cull sales
✓ Yes
2021
46
Cross-fencing for rotational grazing; water trough network; TB testing
Qualification Met: Continuous exotic animal operation since 2019 with 7 of 7 qualifying years. Revenue from guided hunts, breeding stock sales, and wildlife photography demonstrates clear commercial intent.
04 Property & Pasture Map
Elevation Range
410 ft — 465 ft ASL
Terrain
Rolling wooded draws with open meadows
Fencing
8-ft game-proof (Bekaert Bezinal 2x4x4) — full perimeter + cross-fences
Water
Year-round creek + 4 troughs on float valves
Ranch & Pasture Rotation Map
05 Herd Inventory & Management
Current Herd Census (January 2026)
Species
Bucks
Does
Fawns/Young
Total
Pasture
Axis Deer (Axis axis)
12
26
14
52
A & B
Blackbuck Antelope (Antilope cervicapra)
6
9
3
18
C
Total Herd
18
35
17
70
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Carrying Capacity Analysis
Stocking Rate: At 1.13 AU/ac (axis = 0.3 AU, blackbuck = 0.2 AU), total animal units = 21.0 AU on 61.8 acres = 0.34 AU/ac, well within the recommended 0.5 AU/ac for native browse + improved pasture mix in Rains County. This ensures sustainable forage and herd health.
Veterinary & Health Program
Activity
Frequency
Details
TB / Brucellosis Testing
Annual
TAHC-certified veterinarian; required for interstate transport
Parasite Management
Bi-annual
Fecal egg counts; deworming via medicated feed
Nutritional Supplementation
Year-round
Protein feeders (Oct–Mar); mineral blocks (year-round)
Habitat Diversity: The ranch provides 3 distinct habitat types to match the ecological preferences of each species — open meadow for axis does, post oak browse for axis bucks, and open grassland for blackbuck. This maximizes herd health and natural behavior.
07 Production & Income History
Category
2023
2024
2025
Sales — Guided Hunts
Axis Deer Hunts (trophy bucks)
$21,000
$24,000
$22,500
Axis Doe/Management Hunts
$3,500
$4,000
$3,750
Blackbuck Hunts
$6,000
$7,200
$6,750
Sales — Breeding Stock
Axis Breeding Stock
$5,400
$3,600
$4,500
Blackbuck Breeding Stock
$2,400
$1,800
$2,250
Other
Photography / Observation Tours
$1,200
$1,800
$2,000
Total Revenue
$39,500
$42,400
$41,750
Expenses
Feed & Supplements
$6,200
$6,800
$6,500
Veterinary & Health
$2,400
$2,800
$2,600
Fencing Maintenance & Repair
$3,200
$2,600
$2,800
Insurance & Liability
$2,800
$2,800
$2,800
Habitat Management (mowing, burning, seeding)
$1,800
$2,000
$1,900
Net Income
$23,100
$25,400
$25,150
Income Intent Satisfied: 3-year average net income of $24,550/yr from guided hunts, breeding stock sales, and wildlife observation tours. This is a high-revenue agricultural operation.
08 Tax Valuation Comparison
Method
Value/Acre
Acres
Assessed Value
Market Value (current)
$10,800/ac
61.8
$667,440
Ag (1-d-1) — Exotic Game Ranch
$210/ac
61.8
$12,978
$13,682
Annual Tax — Market Value
$1,347
Annual Tax — Agricultural Value
$12,335
Estimated Annual Tax Savings
Substantial Savings: Estimated $61,675 over 5 years. The ag exemption effectively reduces the property tax burden by 90%.
Important Compliance: Exotic animal operations require 8-ft game-proof fencing, annual veterinary inspections, and compliance with TPWD regulations. Removal of fencing or dispersal of herd may trigger rollback.
09 Certification & Signatures
I certify that the information provided is true and correct, and that this property is primarily devoted to raising exotic animals for commercial purposes as defined by Texas Tax Code §23.51(2) and §142.001 of the Agriculture Code.
Prepared by Exemption.Land — using TPWD exotic species regulations, TAHC health requirements, Rains County CAD intensity standards, and USDA-NRCS carrying capacity guidelines.