Here are some resources I've compiled to guide you regarding Wildlife Management and obtaining-transferring AG Status and related Tax discounts (often called Ag exemption) when buying and managing rural land here in Texas.
Are you a hunter or landowner wanting to trap or hunt your land?
Check here for your County Seasonal Allowance and Restrictions
https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/seasons/county-listing/
Check here for general Hunting and Fishing Regs in the State Of Texas
https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/
To file for your AG status you will need to send your county Tax office & or appraisal office some forms,
I suggest you send these to your county by the end of the yr.- AFTER you purchase the property and County clerk has filed the sale documents- typically at least a few weeks.
Form 1-D-1 is required to transfer the AG status from prior owner to you, for the lower tax valuation.
*primary form- pgh 4 you can get prior years' info from your county CAD website
if you will do the Wildlife mgmt also file this wildlife management plan in the first year you own the property
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdforms/media/pwd_885_w7000_open_space_agric_valuation_wildlife_mgmt_plan.pdf
THEN subsequent years you will file the Wildlife management report
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdforms/media/pwd_888_w7000_wildlife_management_appraisal_report.pdf
If it already has timber status, then the folks at the County Tax/Appraisal office may have other forms; here is a great resource:
https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/timberharvesting/
As far as Ag status (not truly 'exemptions'), there are options with crops-leasing, livestock, timber growth-harvest, or wildlife management (what I do on my land)....here is a link to TX Parks and Wildlife and info on those.
Well Water, Ponds, Water Capture, Aquifers
Service providers; drillers ~$25-60 per foot ; generally at least $4000-5000 minimum as of 2025
depending on rock/soil and accessibility you may be 100-300 feet or over 2000' deep a few miles away. Don't assume since you may be near a pond or lake that you easily can dig a well nearby- it doesn't work that way.
Estimate with liners, pipe, tanks, pumps you'll total around $100 per foot; and perhaps more in difficult soil/rock with all your equipment when finished
Test kits- if you find a home with a well- this may be good to have on hand….
with most, you can do a prelim test onsite, then send in a sample
Cost of the kit often covers the lab work- then they email you the results
After all that, you may qualify for Sales tax exemption on many related purchases for your 'farm' or 'ranch'. Here is where to apply for a Ag & Timber Registration number-which you will provide to suppliers, like Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc for some equipment, feed, etc....If you are buying a tractor, ranch Side X Side, or other equipment, that too is often untaxed, If you have a 'farm truck' or 'farm trailer' meeting certain conditions, you may receive a discount on your annual vehicle registration as well. - be sure to read all the allowances and details on the Comptroller website and forms, to assure you are in compliance.
Feel free to reach out to us for guidance or questions about land management
Bruce W . Carr
www.LoneStarLand.us
https://www.youtube.com/@LoneStarLand
Let's Video Chat
214-770-6954 call-text 877TEXAN24 (83926)
2244 CR 1264 Pittsburg, Tx 75686
TEXAS Real Estate Broker# 693884
State of Texas; Notary Public #13339619-0
2004-2022 ASHI Certified Inspector; Ret.
2000-2022 TREC Prof Inspector 5821; Ret.
2008-2010 Lone Star ASHI President American Society of Home Inspectors
2007-2008 Lone Star ASHI Vice President www.ASHITexas.org
2004-2022 Certified Applicator - Ret. Texas Structural Pest Control Service
2012 Code Certified Residential Energy Inspector 8086001
2010 Post Tension Institute- Level 1 Certified 91209008 www.post-tensioning.org
2010 Certified TREC Instructor # 881079432 xp
2014-2018 CPO-444054 National Swimming Pool Foundation
