Anybody willing to share an example of their approved 1-D-1 Wildlife Management Plan (Form WPD 885-W7000)?

I'm looking to convert some existing open-space property into wildlife and the CAD isn't super helpful. I was advised "It is very important to fill out the application in detail and attach supporting documentation such a [sic] photos with detailed information."

Would be nice to have some example of what details and supporting documentation would be sufficient; though I'm sure it varies on a county by county basis.

I'm working on mine right now and some folks on here have been super helpful. Talking to the CAD is the most important steps. You can also look for the wildlife biologist in your county that could help. they may know what plans get approved and what they have done to help other folks.

Main thing to me is that it's a PLAN. It doesn't have to be completed, only what you expect to do over the next 1-3 years. So consider that as well.

I'll try to dig mine out later.

Don't stress over it too much. Just really think about what you are capable of doing with the time and equipment you have.
Don't overdo it.

Most likely you'll not hear if you are approved. My county coordinator told me you are only contacted for questions and an outright rejection.

Muzzleblast said:

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I'll try to dig mine out later.

Don't stress over it too much. Just really think about what you are capable of doing with the time and equipment you have.
Don't overdo it.

Most likely you'll not hear if you are approved. My county coordinator told me you are only contacted for questions and an outright rejection.

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my county also sends out a questionnaire at the end of the year to see what you actually did on your plan.

My place is in Brewster County, so the Trans-Pecos region. I have a feeling they're not as stringent as they are in other counties. Ours is good for 5 years and I've already done some improvements after year 2.

Section III:
Marked Deer (Mule deer) and Other - Elk

Section IV:
Our goal is to keep the property in as much of an original state as possible and to attract native wildlife to the area. In order to keep wildlife in the area, we plan to implement a feeding program as well as provide supplemental water with guzzlers during dry periods. Over time, we'd also like to restore the native grasses that were once grazed on the property.

Part VI:
Hunting isn't part of our wildlife plan.

Part VII:
Currently not a member of a WMA.

Part VIII:
1. Habitat Control
Other type of grazing - Cattle are no longer grazing on property to increase native grasses.

3. Predator Control
Feral hogs are shot when sighted.

4. Supplemental Water
Big Game Guzzler - A 144sqft catchment area feeds to a 200g tank with a 3g trough attached. Since upgraded to 400g.

5. Providing Supplemental Food
Feeders & mineral supplementation
- Protein and Corn, Trace Minerals, Spread Feeder (2)
- Year Round
- A 600 lb feeder near water supply, additional 300 lb feeder on higher ground.

6. Census
Miscellaneous Counts
- Remote Detection (ie cameras)
- Wildlife activity is monitored with 5 game cameras to see seasonal patterns of the mule deer and elk along with other animals (bobcats, coyotes, badgers, etc)

I also attached photos of the guzzler, feeder and elk using those resources.

I'm working on this now. Anyone have any examples they would like to share?

Pictures of your installed practices always help. When I write one for people, I really do 2. I get everything in there for the basic wildlife plan (I like to have one extra practice, if possible), then a write a more detailed management plan with plant id, soils info,, grazing plans, brush management details, etc…..for the owner.

Lots of good companies out there that will do it for you. The $500-600 a year spent to keep the tax man away always seems worth it to me.

I feel like when the appraisal districts start going after landowners they will start with the self planned / filed.

What county are you in? I did mine myself for my property in Blanco county. Blanco county was very helpful and they had examples to share with me. I would say do what you say you are going to do in your plan and take some pictures but more importantly save receipts for feed, seed, etc. It is really easy to do so I think paying someone else is a waste of money. If you like I will copy mine and send it to you as an example.

excuse me, Mr. B-1 83, do you write 1-D-1 plans for people? I could use some advice or pay someone (you? ) to help me out in my year 1 submission for my property. The sellers, and still my neighbors as I bought a piece of their property, already had this land it under a wild life management plan exemption, which I intend and hope (need) to keep in place. I have a copy of their form from a few years ago- but seems simple- too simple. Makes me nervous about several things. Among those things: me submitting for the first time, me being a newcomer to these here parts, and the county allegedly having a brand new assessor that won't be as lenient as her predecessor.

dave99ag said:

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My place is in Brewster County, so the Trans-Pecos region. I have a feeling they're not as stringent as they are in other counties. Ours is good for 5 years and I've already done some improvements after year 2.

Section III:
Marked Deer (Mule deer) and Other - Elk

Section IV:
Our goal is to keep the property in as much of an original state as possible and to attract native wildlife to the area. In order to keep wildlife in the area, we plan to implement a feeding program as well as provide supplemental water with guzzlers during dry periods. Over time, we'd also like to restore the native grasses that were once grazed on the property.

Part VI:
Hunting isn't part of our wildlife plan.

Part VII:
Currently not a member of a WMA.

Part VIII:
1. Habitat Control
Other type of grazing - Cattle are no longer grazing on property to increase native grasses.

3. Predator Control
Feral hogs are shot when sighted.

4. Supplemental Water
Big Game Guzzler - A 144sqft catchment area feeds to a 200g tank with a 3g trough attached. Since upgraded to 400g.

5. Providing Supplemental Food
Feeders & mineral supplementation
- Protein and Corn, Trace Minerals, Spread Feeder (2)
- Year Round
- A 600 lb feeder near water supply, additional 300 lb feeder on higher ground.

6. Census
Miscellaneous Counts
- Remote Detection (ie cameras)
- Wildlife activity is monitored with 5 game cameras to see seasonal patterns of the mule deer and elk along with other animals (bobcats, coyotes, badgers, etc)

I also attached photos of the guzzler, feeder and elk using those resources.

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Are elk considered an animal that qualify under the wildlife valuation?

oh no said:

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excuse me, Mr. B-1 83, do you write 1-D-1 plans for people? I could use some advice or pay someone (you? ) to help me out in my year 1 submission for my property. The sellers, and still my neighbors as I bought a piece of their property, already had this land it under a wild life management plan exemption, which I intend and hope (need) to keep in place. I have a copy of their form from a few years ago- but seems simple- too simple. Makes me nervous about several things. Among those things: me submitting for the first time, me being a newcomer to these here parts, and the county allegedly having a brand new assessor that won't be as lenient as her predecessor.

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I do exactly that. Where is your place?

Sent a DM!!

SanAntoneAg said:

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dave99ag said:

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My place is in Brewster County, so the Trans-Pecos region. I have a feeling they're not as stringent as they are in other counties. Ours is good for 5 years and I've already done some improvements after year 2.

Section III:
Marked Deer (Mule deer) and Other - Elk

Section IV:
Our goal is to keep the property in as much of an original state as possible and to attract native wildlife to the area. In order to keep wildlife in the area, we plan to implement a feeding program as well as provide supplemental water with guzzlers during dry periods. Over time, we'd also like to restore the native grasses that were once grazed on the property.

Part VI:
Hunting isn't part of our wildlife plan.

Part VII:
Currently not a member of a WMA.

Part VIII:
1. Habitat Control
Other type of grazing - Cattle are no longer grazing on property to increase native grasses.

3. Predator Control
Feral hogs are shot when sighted.

4. Supplemental Water
Big Game Guzzler - A 144sqft catchment area feeds to a 200g tank with a 3g trough attached. Since upgraded to 400g.

5. Providing Supplemental Food
Feeders & mineral supplementation
- Protein and Corn, Trace Minerals, Spread Feeder (2)
- Year Round
- A 600 lb feeder near water supply, additional 300 lb feeder on higher ground.

6. Census
Miscellaneous Counts
- Remote Detection (ie cameras)
- Wildlife activity is monitored with 5 game cameras to see seasonal patterns of the mule deer and elk along with other animals (bobcats, coyotes, badgers, etc)

I also attached photos of the guzzler, feeder and elk using those resources.

---

Are elk considered an animal that qualify under the wildlife valuation?

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Depends on where you are at. In far west Texas where he is at, sure. The tax assessors are mainly going to want to see that your plan is focused on managing for species that are reasonable for your property. For example, managing for elk in deep east Texas is ridiculous and you would not be able to document any successes. Managing for WTD on a 15 acre parcel would similarly be unlikely to get approved because you are unlikely to be able to provide for all of the needs of more than a couple of deer on a property that size and their natural range is much larger than that. As long as you pick a species or set of species to manage for that is reasonable to expect to be on your property and that could reasonably exist solely on what you provide on your property, you should have no issues getting it approved. If you go to the TPWD website and look for "species of concern" or whatever they refer to them as now, for your area, and manage for those, you should have plenty of work you can do and should have little trouble justifying the need for the management. Managing for deer on a 200 acre property in central Texas where deer are already overpopulated is an example where an appraiser could come back and say "why do you need to manage for them when they already are at or exceed the carrying capacity of the land?"

txags92 said:

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SanAntoneAg said:

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dave99ag said:

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My place is in Brewster County, so the Trans-Pecos region. I have a feeling they're not as stringent as they are in other counties. Ours is good for 5 years and I've already done some improvements after year 2.

Section III:
Marked Deer (Mule deer) and Other - Elk

Section IV:
Our goal is to keep the property in as much of an original state as possible and to attract native wildlife to the area. In order to keep wildlife in the area, we plan to implement a feeding program as well as provide supplemental water with guzzlers during dry periods. Over time, we'd also like to restore the native grasses that were once grazed on the property.

Part VI:
Hunting isn't part of our wildlife plan.

Part VII:
Currently not a member of a WMA.

Part VIII:
1. Habitat Control
Other type of grazing - Cattle are no longer grazing on property to increase native grasses.

3. Predator Control
Feral hogs are shot when sighted.

4. Supplemental Water
Big Game Guzzler - A 144sqft catchment area feeds to a 200g tank with a 3g trough attached. Since upgraded to 400g.

5. Providing Supplemental Food
Feeders & mineral supplementation
- Protein and Corn, Trace Minerals, Spread Feeder (2)
- Year Round
- A 600 lb feeder near water supply, additional 300 lb feeder on higher ground.

6. Census
Miscellaneous Counts
- Remote Detection (ie cameras)
- Wildlife activity is monitored with 5 game cameras to see seasonal patterns of the mule deer and elk along with other animals (bobcats, coyotes, badgers, etc)

I also attached photos of the guzzler, feeder and elk using those resources.

---

Are elk considered an animal that qualify under the wildlife valuation?

---

Depends on where you are at. In far west Texas where he is at, sure. The tax assessors are mainly going to want to see that your plan is focused on managing for species that are reasonable for your property. For example, managing for elk in deep east Texas is ridiculous and you would not be able to document any successes. Managing for WTD on a 15 acre parcel would similarly be unlikely to get approved because you are unlikely to be able to provide for all of the needs of more than a couple of deer on a property that size and their natural range is much larger than that. As long as you pick a species or set of species to manage for that is reasonable to expect to be on your property and that could reasonably exist solely on what you provide on your property, you should have no issues getting it approved. If you go to the TPWD website and look for "species of concern" or whatever they refer to them as now, for your area, and manage for those, you should have plenty of work you can do and should have little trouble justifying the need for the management. Managing for deer on a 200 acre property in central Texas where deer are already overpopulated is an example where an appraiser could come back and say "why do you need to manage for them when they already are at or exceed the carrying capacity of the land?"

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That's interesting since elk are classified as exotics in Texas and on the same list as axis, aoudad, nilgai, feral hogs, etc.

Texas Administrative Code seems to stress "indigenous wildlife species" when it comes to wildlife management plans.

(c) The wildlife management plan must include:
(1) ownership information, property description and current use;
(2) the landowner's goals and objectives for the tract of land;
(3) the specific indigenous wildlife species targeted for management; and
(4) the specific management practices and activities to be implemented in support of the specific indigenous wildlife species targeted for management.

Interesting. I would have thought they would have been considered indigenous in West Texas due to their historical presence in the Guadalupe Mtns and surrounding areas. But it sounds like the legislature declared them as exotic throughout the state sometime in the mid-90s (probably to allow year-round hunting of them for private ranches stocking them). With them classified as exotics, I am surprised the appraiser would let somebody manage for them. Thanks for bringing that up…I learned something new from that.