Talking Tax Valuations
A wildlife tax valuation, which is commonly referred to as a wildlife exemption here in Texas, is a good deal for Colorado County landowners interested in managing their property for native plants and animals. A property does need to have a current ag tax valuation and the tract must meet minimum size requirements under certain situations. A wildlife valuation maintains green space throughout Texas and allows property owners to enjoy their land!
Some property owners think a wildlife exemption/valuation is just for non-game animals, while others think a wildlife valuation is just for game animals that can be pursued by hunters. The truth is that either can work. One of the main factors that county appraisal districts in Texas, including the Colorado County Appraisal District, consider when evaluating a management plan for a wildlife tax exemption-valuation is that the property owner is managing for a native wildlife species.
That stipulation covers just about ever critter out there,from insects to birds to white-tailed deer, but under the ag tax valuation rules land owners can not manage for fish (which if done commercially would fall under an ag tax valuation).
Game or No Game: It’s All Good for a Wildlife Exemption
Texas land owners can manage for non-game wildlife such as songbirds, bluebirds, cardinals and small mammals such as rabbits and squirrels. Many of the same management practices that apply elsewhere across the state apply in Colorado County. Brush piles, supplemental shelter (birdhouses) supplemental feeding, supplemental water, predator control (cowbird trapping) for instance, are all very good practices that can make a significant difference, especially on smaller tracts of land.
For those that hunt, managing for doves, white-tailed deer and other game animals can make sense. It is important to note, however, that a property must be of an appropriate size to manage for certain wide-ranging wildlife species. This is another key consideration that property owners and appraisal districts must make when evaluating a wildlife management plan for a wildlife exemption. Feel free to contact us if you are considering switching your Colorado County property over to a wildlife valuation, or another property elsewhere in Texas. We can help!
Take Action for a Wildlife Tax Valuation