Anyone have information as to the procedures & regulations to get the WILDLIFE EXEMPTION through the TG&F DEPT. Thanks Daniel

If you do a Google search it will take you there.

My county will mail you a fill in the blank form. might call your CAD.

Have to go through your county appraisal district. Most have forms online to fill out. I am fairly certain you have to be Ag Exempt before converting to wildlife.

The property must already be appraised as 1-d-1 Ag / open space / timber by the CAD before applying for WLM appraisal.
The property tax rate is the same.

---> TPWD Ag property tax conversion for wildlife management <---

I was able to get the info and help from my local TPWD biologist at the time I did mine 8 yrs ago.

Have to come from a grazing exemption. Or had to when I got mine. When they first were approved, I promptly sold my cows and started letting my neighbors worry about fences.

There is a list of things that you can do. You have to pick 3 of them and do an annual report of them. I like to add pictures so it gives more than words on paper. I'm not sure how much attention they pay to the 6 or 7 page document that I sweat blood over.

But, without it, I wouldn't be able to afford the taxes.

The ladies in Menard and Kimble counties were more than helpful, via email. 'Got my approval with no problems whatsoever. (The previous owner was ag, but, by the looks of it, it was the bare minimum.) If you choose predator control as one of your 3 actions, take pictures of every varmint, pig, etc. I've always been a fan of overkill, so I know, when it comes time to report, that they'll be flooded with info from me, to the point that they say "Oh, THAT guy."

I chose predator control, supplemental feed, and supplemental water. I hope to drill a new well and dig a stock tank on the south part of the ranch within the 3 years of the reporting period. In the mean time, I'll play with the tractor at the "Buffalo Wallow" and see if I can get a spring to bubble up.

I went from ag exempt to wildlife exempt - once you get the wildlife your county cannot come out and spy on whether or not you have cows, etc. As long as you turn in the required paper work each year you are good to go - keep in mind if you have ag and lose it you also lose your sales tax exemption - not available with wildlife

I took a CAD person to look at a property I leased for cattle. I talked to him about myself getting a Wildlife exemption. He said don't do it. He said keep your Ag. exemption so you can still use it for sales tax on certain items and plus it makes a lot less work for us. Plus the Ag. Ex. will always be there and as more and more go for Wildlife the harder it will become to keep it. JMO.

you do that and the buffalo could show back up

Should I light a fire? Do a dance? Stitch a loincloth? If the white buffalo shows up, we're screwed.

I also can no longer buy off road diesel for my tractor

just curious Don - you want to make a lot less work for the county folks? Cannot say that is on the top of my list - wildlife exemptions are here to stay so IMO it is not going away -

I got the wildlife exemption and it's always been easy and approved. Appraisal district always helpful with it. Saves so much on taxes. Highly recommended

How much timber is on your place? A timber exemption is easy to obtain and maintain.

We did the same. The only cows on my place will be on a plate next to the salad and baked potato.

There is not a single penny difference in property tax rates between 1-D Ag, 1-D-1 Ag/open space/timber and the Wildlife valuation.

The CAD's can & certainly do confirm you are completing the requirements claimed on your management plan.
It is a State requirement that CAD'S audit / confirm a certain % of the properties within their county yearly.

Each county can & many do set their own guidelines, rules and requirements for the various rural property tax appraisals, as long as they're inline with State guidelines.

The property must currently be appraised as 1-D-1 to qualify for the Wildlife property tax valuation.


---> TPWD property tax conversion to wildlife

---> TX comptroller
Scroll down to wildlife management use appraisal, then click on it.

Or go to your county specific CAD web site to view their guidelines, qualifications, requirements.

Converting from 1-d-1 to wildlife is a fairly simple process.

In our county all you have to do is submit your plan/results once a year - the county does not physically come out to view a property

Most counties don't need to physically 'come out', they use quality satellite imagery.
Easy to zoom in on feed & water sources, brush piles, whatever, and see changes from year to year.
Most counties do the same for 1-d & 1-d-1 appraisals also.

Now days, when a CAD employee comes onto your land they already have reason for an on site visit.

Good points

So if my three improvements is trapping racoons, etc. (which I send pics in each year), I stock fish in my pond (which I send receipts in) and control the weed/hydrilla growth in my pond then how is someone at my county going to see any of that on satellite? Out of the 7 options a number of them cannot be determined via satellite.