OAK PRAIRIE WILDLIFE VIEWS
Wildlife management, Part II

Last week we discussed qualifying land for wildlife management valuation and went into detail on the application process. This week we will discuss the heart of the process, the wildlife management plan.

The law requires a landowner to conduct three of seven practices. Before completing the wildlife management plan the landowner should become familiar with each of the practices, and what each entails. These practices are: 1) Supplemental Food, 2) Supplemental Shelter, 3) Supplemental Water, 4) Habitat Control, 5) Erosion Control, 6) Predator Control, and 7) Conducting Census. A discussion on each practice can be found in the Guidelines for Qualification of Agricultural Lands in Wildlife Management Use on the TPWD Web site at: www.tpwd. state.tx.us/landwater/land/ private/agriculturalland/.

There are a few points to consider when developing a plan. The wildlife species the landowner chooses to manage for must be native species. Additionally, just as agricultural practices must meet a certain "level of intensity," so too must wildlife management practices. The intensity level must be appropriate for the size of the property, the species being managed for, and the type of habitat present. Simply put, this means managing for deer on 15 acres is not reasonable, because the law requires a landowner to manage for a "sustaining, breeding, wintering, or migrating population" and 15 acres is only enough space for one deer. Good habitat benefits all wildlife species, so landowners can still enjoy the presence of these species on their property even though they are not the focus of the management plan.

Completing the Wildlife Management Plan

The most important thing to remember in developing a wildlife plan is whose management plan it is. The plan should meet the goals and objectives of the landowner, not the Chief Appraiser, or TPWD. It is also equally important for the landowner to know why they are employing a particular practice.

Before starting, think about what you want to be able to do and enjoy from the land. Do you want to be able to sit on the porch and watch ducks land in the tank? Or perhaps watch songbirds from your kitchen window? Or maybe take your grandchildren hunting? Whatever it is you'd like to be able to enjoy on your land, this is your goal.

Next, what is required to accomplish the goal? What will you have to do to achieve your goal? When you have the answers, you have your objectives. Now that the goal and the objectives have been decided, the rest comes easily.

Match each of your objectives to one of the seven practices. Fill in your goals and objectives in the space provided. Check off the boxes next to the management practices you intend to do. Next, go to each of those sections in the form and check off the activities you'll be conducting to meet your goals and objectives. Remember, most of the form will be left blank. When you're finished, sign and date the form and attach it to your 1-d-1 Open Space Appraisal Application. Your packet is now ready to submit to the County Appraisal District, with May 1 being the deadline.

What happens next depends upon the county. Some counties send letters acknowledging receipt and approval of applications, and some do not. Some counties only notify landowners if their applications have been rejected.

If the landowner meets criteria and still gets a notice of denial, the first thing to remember is that this letter is primarily a request for more information. Contact your County Appraisal District and make an appointment to come in and inquire about what the problem might be. The majority of time this informal meeting is all that is required in order to get things taken care of. If not, you will have the opportunity to present your information before the Appraisal Review Board.

A wildlife management plan should reflect the landowner's goals and objectives for the property. By employing 3 of the 7 management practices, landowners need to manage for native wildlife species at an intensity level that is appropriate both to the size of the property and the species being managed for.

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