Wildlife management valuation in Comanche County, Texas

• Brush Management: Brush Management practices should annually affect a minimum of 10% of the total area designated in the plan, or a minimum of 10 acres annually, whichever is smaller.
• Range Enhancement (Range Re-Seeding): Range Enhancement should annually affect a minimum of 10% of the total area designated in the plan, or a minimum of 10 acres annually, whichever is smaller, until the project is completed.
• Riparian Management and Enhancement: A minimum of one Riparian Management and Enhancement project must be implemented and maintained every 10 years to qualify.

• Pond Construction and Major Repair: A minimum of one project must be implemented and maintained every 10 years to qualify.
• Gully Shaping: A minimum of one project must be implemented and maintained every 10 years to qualify.
• Plant Establishment on Critical Areas (erodible): A minimum of 10 seedlings per acre must be planted and maintained annually on 10 acres or a minimum of 10% (whichever is smaller) of the total designated area treated annually.

• Predator Management (feral/exotic species, incl. feral hogs): The predator control plan should be prepared or approved by a competent professional and include the list, duration and intensity of methods to remove the target species annually.
• Predator Management (native nest predators, e.g. raccoon, skunk): The predator control plan should be prepared or approved by a competent professional and include the list, duration and intensity of methods to remove the target species annually.
• Imported Red Fire Ant Control: To protect native wildlife species or their food base, including native fire ants which seem to restrict the spread of the imported fire ants; proper treatment of at least 10 acres or 10% of infested area per year, whichever is more.
• Control of Cowbirds: Removal of at least 30 cowbirds annually is required to qualify.

• Well/Troughs/Windmill Overflow/Other Wildlife Watering Facilities: A minimum of one project per 10 years must be completed to qualify. Consistent water management for wildlife at sites qualifies.
• Modification of existing water sources for wildlife access (e.g. stock tanks, windmill overflows): A minimum of one project per 10 years must be completed to qualify. Consistent water management for wildlife at sites qualifies.
• Marsh/Wetland Restoration or Development: Minimum requirement of one marsh/wetland restored or developed per 10 years. Annual water management of project or existing wetland qualifies.

• Food Plots: A minimum of 1% of the acreage should be planted in seasonal food plots.
• Feeders and Mineral Supplementation: A minimum of one free-choice feeder per 320 acres in use during the recommended time period, with a minimum of 16% crude protein feed (See Appendix F for deer), required to qualify.

• Nest Boxes, Bat Boxes: Number and location of nest boxes should be consistent with habitat needs and territorial requirements of the target species, and sufficient over the area to provide a real supplement to the target population and address an identified severe limiting factor as part of a comprehensive wildlife management plan.
• Brush Piles and Slash Retention: A minimum of 1 percent of the designated area must be treated annually to qualify.
• Fence Line Management: A minimum length of 100 yards of Fence Line Management per 1/4 mile of fence is required annually to qualify.

• Spotlight Counts: A minimum of three counts, or a minimum of 15 surveyed miles, must be completed annually.
• Daylight Deer Herd/Wildlife Composition Counts/Photo Stations: Counts should be conducted on standardized transects along 5 mile minimum lines and run at least 3 times (if shorter lines or used, a total of at least 15 miles must be surveyed), or through other standardized methodology to obtain at least 100 observations. On smaller tracts, as least five separate, two hour counts during early morning or late afternoon from deer stands (blinds) may be used.
• Miscellaneous Counts (species-specific, e.g. gobbler/turkey counts): Specific species may require special survey techniques. These may include the following and should be addressed in the management plan:

Both are 1-d-1 open-space valuations, not true exemptions. Converting means filing a new 1-d-1 application (Form 50-129) with the wildlife-management section completed, plus a wildlife management plan (TPWD PWD-885), with the appraisal district between January 1 and April 30. Your land must already hold 1-d-1 (or timber) valuation, and wildlife management must become its primary use. In Comanche County that means TPWD’s Cross Timbers and Prairies guidelines.

Conversion keeps your existing 1-d-1 productivity valuation with wildlife management as the qualifying use — it is designed to be tax-neutral relative to your current ag valuation. The chief appraiser makes every valuation decision; no software or consultant can promise an outcome.

At least 3 of the 7 statutory practices; many landowners commit to 5 or more for margin. Practices come with region-specific intensity standards — for Cross Timbers and Prairies, the standards are set out in TPWD’s regional guidelines and summarized on this page.

There is no blanket statewide minimum. A minimum-acreage test (the wildlife-use requirement) applies only if your tract was reduced in size after January 1 of the preceding tax year; otherwise the requirement does not apply at all. If it does apply, the appraisal district picks a ratio from the range set for this wildlife-use appraisal region — the ranges for this county are on this page.

Ask about the good-cause extension first: before the deadline the chief appraiser may grant up to 60 extra days on written request. After that, late applications are accepted until the ARB approves the appraisal records — typically around July 20 statewide, but confirm the current year’s schedule with the appraisal district — with a penalty of 10% of that year’s tax savings.