Management Plan for Wildlife Tax Valuation
A well developed wildlife management plan is the most important part of applying for the wildlife tax valuation in Texas. Landowners may submit the plan the chief tax appraiser (in the county where the land is located) between January 1 and April 30 of the tax year. The document must list landowner information, property details and the specific management activities to be implemented on the tract of land.
In Texas, landowners have the right to develop the wildlife management plan for 1-D-1 wildlife use of their property. However the management practices and activities contained in the plan must be consistent with the practices and activities for plant communities found on the land. In addition, the activities need to be appropriate for the ecoregion in which the property is located.
Since most property owners are neither wildlife biologist nor experts on special tax valuations, most landowners find it quite time consuming and cumbersome to develop their own management plan that satisfies the requirements of the wildlife valuation. Texas also allows property owners the right to seek the help of wildlife professionals.
Management Plan Requirements
So a wildlife management plan must be filed with the county appraisal office, but what is a wildlife management plan? In short, a well-written plan will outline the plant communities found in the area, it will outline the wildlife managed on a property, and it will list in detail the management practices that will be implemented.
All of these dovetail towards the landowner’s goals and meet intensity levels for the region. A management plan essentially serves as a map for a tract of land. In addition, a plan ensures that the landowner gets started in the right direction. The plan is a reference that helps guide future management decisions.
Wildlife Management Plan Q & A
Q: Can a landowner apply for a wildlife tax valuation without a written management plan?
A: No, property owners in Texas must submit a detailed plan to the county appraisal district the year in which they apply (Jan. 1 – April 30) for a wildlife tax valuation.
Q: Why is a management plan important?
A: First, a management plan is important because it’s required for a wildlife management use valuation. Also, it outlines in detail at least three management practices that will be implemented on the land to maintain a wildlife use tax valuation. This is especially important for landowners that are not familiar with the requirements and intensity levels for the variety of management activities that could be implemented on a property.
Q: A family member and I have adjoining tracts of land. Do we each need to submit a plan?
A: Yes, it is recommended that each have a plan. Not only does this protect each property owner, but the county appraisal district views each landowner separately. Additionally, the management practices required on each property are likely to differ. The only exception would be for numerous landowners that are part of a property association that is covered under a single plan. Even in this situation, however, each landowner must perform management activities on their own land.
Q: Can landowners in a wildlife management property association submit just one wildlife management plan?
A: Yes, landowners in a wildlife management property association in Texas can submit one wildlife management plan for the group, but every landowner is required to sign it. The same is true of the annual report. All landowners must sign it, even if only one report is submitted.