A wildlife exemption is great way for Caldwell County property owners to maintain an agricultural tax valuation on a property and maintain exceptional wildlife habitat at the same time. But truth be known, it’s not an exemption at all. Someone that is using their property for wildlife management still has to pay taxes.
So, a wildlife exemption is more appropriately termed a wildlife tax valuation. A landowner with a wildlife tax valuation is not exempt from taxes, but they do pay the same (low) annual rate on a per acre basis as someone with a traditional ag tax valuation. It’s a great deal for landowners interested in conservation and wildlife and habitat management.
Caldwell County: Managing for Wildlife
Caldwell County is located in the Post Oak Savannah ecoregion of Texas. This is important for property owners interesting in using their properties for wildlife management. To enroll and maintain a property under a wildlife tax valuation in Caldwell County, or any other Texas county for that matter, a property owner must manage their land for a native wildlife species.
Fortunately, the Post Oak Savannah is home to a variety of wildlife species. This leaves the door open for landowners interested in very small critters, such as insects, up to very large animals, such as white-tailed deer. But maintaining a wildlife tax valuation is not as simple as picking out a species.
A Wildlife Tax Valuation Takes Active Management
Maintaining “wildlife use” on a property for the benefits of conservation and an ag tax rate is not difficult for property owners interested in the the out of doors, but it does require some upfront planning as well as some work.
The wildlife tax valuation is designed to be a conservation measure by the State of Texas to maintain green, open space for wildlife and people to roam. Those managing the resources of the state, i.e wildlife, get the benefit of an ag tax rate without having to perform traditional ag practices (farming or ranching the land).
The importance of high quality wildlife habitat is often ignored, but Texas has placed a high priority on native wildlife and the habitats that they require. As a result, wildlife tax valuations are a popular choice for rural land owners in Caldwell County and the rest of the state. Contact us if you are considering a “wildlife exemption” on your property, and thanks for stopping by!