Ag / Wildlife tax valuation
Ranch land in Brewster County can qualify for ag tax rates through wildlife management
Texas lets landowners keep lower agricultural property tax rates by managing their land for native wildlife instead of traditional farming or ranching.
In Texas, open-space land is taxed on its productive value — not its market value. This can greatly lower a tax bill on large rural land. The wildlife management option lets you keep that lower rate without running cattle or crops. You just need to manage the land for a breeding, migrating, or wintering population of native wildlife.
To qualify, your land must already have an agricultural appraisal. You must carry out at least three of seven recognized wildlife management practices. Those practices are: habitat control, erosion control, predator management, supplemental water, supplemental food, supplemental shelter, or census counts.
You also must file a Wildlife Management Plan on Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) form PWD-885. Submit it to the Brewster County Appraisal District — not to TPWD. Brewster County is in the Trans-Pecos ecoregion, and TPWD has planning guidelines for that area.
The law requires a good-faith effort. Results are not guaranteed. Check filing deadlines at brewstercotad.org or call (432) 837-2558. Deadlines can change. TPWD's guidelines and FAQ are at tpwd.texas.gov.
Source to confirm: TPWD — Wildlife Management Tax Valuation FAQ