47-Acre Post Oak Savannah Property — Rains County, Texas
The property is located in the Post Oak Savannah ecoregion of northeast Texas, within Rains County. This region represents a transition zone between the East Texas Piney Woods and the Blackland Prairie, characterized by gently undulating terrain with Post Oak and Blackjack Oak woodlands interspersed with native grass openings.
Rains County sits at the confluence of the Sabine River basin, with Lake Fork Reservoir to the north and Lake Tawakoni to the south. The county encompasses 258.8 square miles, of which over 10% is covered by water. The subject property is located approximately 3.2 miles northeast of the county seat of Emory (population ~1,290) along County Road 1425.
| Period | Land Use | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2021 | Native pasture, cattle grazing (12 head cow-calf) | 1-d-1 Ag (Native Pasture) |
| 2022–2024 | Reduced stocking, improved grass management | 1-d-1 Ag (Native Pasture) |
| 2025 | Transition year: cattle removed, wildlife practices initiated | 1-d-1 Ag (Native Pasture) |
| 2026 | Full wildlife management implementation | 1-d-1 Wildlife Management (requested) |
Data Source: USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), 1/3 arc-second resolution (~10m). Contour interval: 10 feet, index contours at 20-foot intervals. Verified against USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle (Emory, TX).
The property exhibits a gentle northwest-to-southeast slope following the natural drainage toward Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Sabine River. The highest point (468 ft) is located at the northwest corner in a Post Oak upland, while the lowest elevation (412 ft) occurs at the Cedar Creek bottomland along the eastern property line. This 56-foot relief creates distinct microhabitats — from well-drained upland ridges to mesic bottomland hardwood corridors — supporting excellent wildlife habitat diversity.
| Map Unit | Soil Type | Acres | % | Slope | Drainage | Erosion Hazard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BsC2 | Bowie fine sandy loam | 18.4 | 38.9% | 3–8% | Moderately well | Moderate |
| KaB | Kaufman clay | 11.2 | 23.7% | 1–3% | Poorly drained | Slight |
| SkD | Silstid loamy fine sand | 9.8 | 20.7% | 3–5% | Well drained | Moderate |
| Wl | Whitesboro loam (bottomland) | 7.9 | 16.7% | 0–1% | Somewhat poorly | Slight (flood risk) |
The property's soils are predominantly acidic sandy loams and clays typical of the East Texas Timberlands region. The Bowie series, occupying the upland ridges, provides excellent deer browse via its support of Post Oak-Blackjack understory. The Kaufman clay in the bottomlands retains moisture seasonally, creating valuable brood-rearing habitat for wild turkey and bobwhite quail.
Source: USDA-NRCS Web Soil Survey, SSURGO Database. Hopkins-Rains County Soil Survey (TX287), 1977 edition with 2024 tabular updates.
| Habitat Type | Estimated Acres | % of Property | Primary Wildlife Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Oak–Blackjack Woodland | 22.5 | 47.6% | Cover, mast (acorns), nesting |
| Native Grass Openings | 12.3 | 26.0% | Foraging, nesting, brood-rearing |
| Bottomland Hardwood (Cedar Creek) | 7.9 | 16.7% | Travel corridor, water access, mast |
| Stock Pond & Riparian Edge | 1.8 | 3.8% | Water source, insect production, waterfowl |
| Food Plot (planted) | 1.5 | 3.2% | Supplemental food, attractant |
| Homesite / Improvements | 1.3 | 2.7% | N/A (excluded from valuation) |
Overstory (Trees):
Understory / Grasses:
| Species | Scientific Name | Status in Rains Co. | Habitat Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Odocoileus virginianus | Abundant — primary target | Mast, browse, cover, water |
| Eastern Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo silvestris | Common — secondary target | Mast, open grass for poults, roost trees |
| Northern Bobwhite | Colinus virginianus | Declining — conservation target | Native grass, forbs, bare ground, cover |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Abundant | Seed, grit, water, perch sites |
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Common — indicator species | Open woodland, cavities, insects |
Activities: Selective brush management to create woodland/grassland mosaic pattern. Remove encroaching Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) from native grass openings. Maintain 50/50 canopy-to-opening ratio for optimal quail and turkey brood habitat. Conduct prescribed burns on 12-acre rotation (3-4 acre blocks per year) in late winter (Feb-Mar) to promote native grass and forb production.
Location: Native grass openings (12.3 ac) and Post Oak woodland edge zones.
Activities: Install terraces and water bars on slopes exceeding 5% in the Bowie fine sandy loam (BsC2) areas. Maintain vegetative buffer strips along Cedar Creek (minimum 50 ft). Reseed bare areas with native grass mix following any ground disturbance. Maintain stock pond dam and spillway.
Location: Slopes in NW quadrant (18.4 ac Bowie series), Cedar Creek riparian zone.
Not selected for this management plan year. Will reassess based on census count results.
Activities: Maintain existing 0.8-acre stock pond with wildlife-accessible gradual bank slopes. Install one gravity-fed wildlife watering station on the upland ridge (NW corner, elevation 465 ft) to serve woodland habitat during July–September dry periods.
Location: Stock pond (SE quadrant), new water station at NW ridge.
Activities: Plant 1.5-acre food plot with seasonal rotations: Fall — oats, wheat, crimson clover (deer & turkey); Spring — iron clay cowpeas, grain sorghum, sunflowers (dove, quail, turkey). Maintain 3 protein feeders (Mar–Sep) for deer herd management.
Location: Food plot in center opening (see contour map), feeders at designated stations.
Activities: Construct 4 brush piles (8×8×4 ft) from cleared cedar on woodland edges. Install 12 Eastern Bluebird nest boxes along fence lines (facing SE). Leave 3 standing dead trees (snags) per acre in woodland for cavity nesters.
Location: Brush piles along E property line, nest boxes on N and S fence lines.
Activities: Conduct annual spotlight deer census (October, 3 consecutive nights). Spring turkey gobble count (April). Northern bobwhite whistle count (June). Maintain game camera survey (4 cameras, year-round). Record all observations in standardized data sheets.
Location: Property-wide, using established survey routes.
| Month | Activity | Practice Category |
|---|---|---|
| January | Brush pile construction; cedar removal | Shelter / Habitat Control |
| February | Prescribed burn (3-4 ac block); water station maintenance | Habitat Control / Water |
| March | Activate protein feeders; install bluebird boxes | Food / Shelter |
| April | Spring food plot planting; turkey gobble count; file annual report with CAD | Food / Census |
| May | Monitor food plot germination; nest box checks | Food / Shelter |
| June | Bobwhite whistle count; replenish feeders | Census / Food |
| July | Monitor supplemental water; check erosion controls | Water / Erosion |
| August | Summer game camera survey review | Census |
| September | Fall food plot preparation; disk and plant oats/clover/wheat | Food |
| October | Spotlight deer census (3 nights); deactivate protein feeders | Census |
| November | Monitor deer harvest during hunting season | Census |
| December | Year-end game camera review; plan next-year burn blocks; compile annual report | Census / Habitat |
I/We certify that the information provided in this Wildlife Management Plan is true and correct. I/We understand that this plan must be actively implemented and that the Rains County Appraisal District may inspect the property to verify compliance. I/We agree to submit an annual report documenting management activities performed during the calendar year.
John Sample
Mary Sample
TPWD Biologist Review (optional but recommended):
Contact: TPWD District 4 — Tyler Office
Phone: (903) 566-1626
Wildlife biologist consultation available at no charge for Rains County landowners.