Can someone on here message me if they have recently went through the process of getting wildlife management tax exemption and dont mind answering a few questions... Or just put what forms you had to fill out and what information is needed to take to the appraisal district to submit...

Thank You,

I contacted the TPWD Biologist for the county in which the property was located. He came out to the property, walked it asking questions, gave guidance for laying out a plan. Most of the forms are located on the TPWD website that you will need ... BUT ... I found out each county appraisal district can have slightly different forms that they require, so it's best to go by (might could call and they could email or fax forms) the county appraisal office first and find out what forms they will accept!!!

I filled out all the proper TPWD forms including my unique plan, went to the county appraisal office a couple hours away to find out they had other forms that were required. Instead of making another trip, I filled out their forms in the lobby.

There is also a deadline (can't remember specific date) in May these need to be filed by.

my next comment is be overly cautious on what type of wildlife improvement management plan you are thinking as some can get pretty deep into details and strict on rolling out and maintaining. What type of improvement plan were you thinking?

does that help?

Everything you need to know ---> TPWD

Thanks for the information. That is exactly what I needed!!

Actually what you need to know is at the CAD. I thought about it a few years ago and went and talked to them. Very interesting and after all the questions and answers I was told it would be a lot better for me to keep the Ag. Exemption.

Yes. Dons right. It's a lot easier to just throw a goat or a cow or a bison out there. I did the wildlife exemption on a couple of ranches when they first started allowing it. It was easy back then. I've heard the bar has gotten quite a bit higher since then. Bison and cattle are my choice now to keep the exemption. But goats, sheep and or horses would serve the same purpose.

I totally agree tossing a few animals out is easier than maintaining the wildlife improvement exemption. Only reason I converted our place over was the dang feral hogs got so bad during the drought (going to artisan springs on our place), they demolished the fences to where I couldn't even keep cattle in the place. They have raised the bar the past 2 years and are much pickier about the management plan.

Who is picky? I just got mine last month. The county tax assessor was not picky at all and it says on the paperwork "does not need to be signed by TPWL for it to be in effect." Maybe I'm missing something. I had an AG exemption already.

If you have neither ag or wildlife, the taxes can be ruinous. Every County seems to be different on "picky" and neither the State or County really likes the idea of anything that reduces revenue. They are also not as enthusiastic regarding absentee landowners like me. When I bought my 133 acres about 35 years ago it was being leased for grazing. I kept that going to keep the exemption but soon bought my own cows. When wildlife exemptions started I sold the cows and changed over. It's a lot easier to change from AG.

About every other year I get a request from the State/County for my plan and the results. I respond with a pretty good sized document and print pictures of deer and other wildlife. I know landowners that haven't paid much attention and have been denied.

Ag exempt is easier to get and keep. Usually you do not have anyone checking on you either.

one thing you want to check on to save time and effort. the land has to have and has to been kept with an active AG exemption for 5 years before it is eligible to be transferred to a wild life exemption. exemptions are transferable from owner to owner so it is the land that has to have an ag exemption for 5 yrs not the owner