Ranch land in Brewster County can qualify for ag tax rates through wildlife management

Open-space appraisal taxes land by productive value, not market value. Wildlife management can keep that appraisal for land already qualified for ag or timber use. It is not a shortcut for raw land.

File with the county appraisal district and include a wildlife management plan. The plan has to use at least three practice areas, such as habitat, erosion, predator work, food, water, shelter, or wildlife counts.

Brewster County sits in the Trans-Pecos. TPWD's regional guides fit this dry, mountainous ranch country. The plan goes to the appraisal district, not TPWD.

If a tract was reduced in acreage since last tax year, minimum-acreage rules may apply. Call the Brewster CAD before splitting or selling part of a larger tract.