OAK PRAIRIE WILDLIFE VIEWS
Qualifying for land management, Part I

Qualifying the Land

The ability of a landowner to manage property for wildlife as an agricultural practice is unique to Texas. This program has gained Texas national recognition for being proactive in leading the way for habitat and wildlife conservation on private lands. According to Texas law, wildlife management is one of many agricultural practices which qualify a landowner for an agricultural appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes.

Before the landowner may convert property to wildlife management, the land must first qualify. The first requirement is that land be currently appraised for agriculture before applying for a wildlife use category. Land that is not currently appraised for agriculture does not qualify. Landowners who do not have land appraised for agriculture must first go through the 5 year process of establishing an agricultural use on the land in some form of production agriculture such as livestock, crop production, etc. Wildlife management is the one agricultural practice that cannot be used to initially qualify land for agricultural appraisal. The law only allows landowners to convert to wildlife management from a "traditional" agricultural practice. The requirements for establishing an agricultural valuation vary by county, so landowners should consult with their County Appraisal District for these requirements.

When agricultural land is subdivided, each piece of land continues to be qualified for agricultural appraisal as long as the landowner is able to satisfy the intensity levels required by the county. Acreage does not matter, but intensity level does. With wildlife management however, subdividing property can cause a new landowner to have to meet minimum acreage requirements. All tracts of land that have been both reduced in size and had a change in ownership since the previous tax year must meet minimum acreage requirements. These minimums are set by the county.

It's important to note that minimum size requirements do not apply to landowners who are currently appraised for agriculture, have not reduced the size of their property and who have owned their land for longer than the previous tax year. For these landowners, all that is necessary is that their request be made prior to May 1.

Getting the Forms Together

Applying for wildlife management as an agricultural practice for ad valorem tax purposes is not a difficult process. Nor is it necessary for a TPWD biologist (or any biologist, for that matter) to come out and inspect the property. Once a landowner understands the process and the requirements, they should find they are perfectly capable of submitting their own application.

Two forms are required in order to apply for wildlife management appraisal. The first is the 1-d-1 Open Space Appraisal Application. This form is available from your County Appraisal District. The landowner needs to fill it in and indicate that wildlife management will be the agricultural practice employed on the property. The second form is the wildlife management plan. This form must be filled in and attached to the 1-d-1 Open Space Appraisal Application. It is available online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/ land/private/agricultural land/. Both forms need to be turned in to the Chief Appraiser before May 1.

Filling in the form for the wildlife management plan is not a lengthy or difficult process. The first thing to remember is that the form is a statewide form, so not everything will be applicable to every part of the state. Not every practice will be applicable to every landowner. The law only requires a landowner to do 3 of 7 practices, and the form covers all seven. Consequently, many of the pages will be left blank. Next week we will discuss the Wildlife Plan more in depth.

If you would like to contact your local biologist, see our Web site at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ wildlifebiologist.