Wildlife Tax Valuation – Land for Camping & Recreation
Having property takes some work, but most people purchasing property today are buying land for recreational purposes. In this case, the wildlife tax valuation makes perfect sense. Hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, photography and camping go hand-in-hand with wildlife management. And let’s face it, rural Texas is one of the best places to see a variety of different habitats and wildlife species.
Buying rural property is a great investment, but many think that it is not for them. But maybe it is? Many get scared off thinking that if they do not perform agricultural activities they will get slapped with a huge tax increase by the country appraisal district. This is true, but by converting land with a 1-d-1 ag tax valuation to a wildlife tax valuation, the property can be maintained at the low tax rate and commercial production simply for the sake of lower taxes quickly vanishes.
Rural land can be expensive, so a common start-up cost after buying property is having a place to stay when you go there. Texas is known for being hot, but the truth of the matter is that we have many more comfortable months than uncomfortable months. Have you ever realized that we get cool or cold fronts at least nine months out of the year? With this in mind, a person can buy property to enjoy and also go relatively “low budget’ at the time. This is where low-cost accommodations are a essential, and camping begins to look better and better.
You would be surprised at how far a few gallons of water and a 12 volt battery will get you. In fact, these items are our essentials when we head out camping on our land. Setting up camp does not take too long since much of our infrastructure is left intact, but once we get our water and 12 volt electricity hooked up it is as good as a camper rental. But as you can imagine, we do not camp in June, July or August. The rest of the year is fair game, depending on the weather.
Because our property has what is commonly referred to as a wildlife exemption, we have tons of wildlife. We really enjoy watching all the critters. Binoculars and spotting scopes work great once you find the animals, and they are easy to pattern on our place. As you might imagine, mornings and evenings are the best times to watch for animals, because this is when they come out to forage, drink and do whatever else they do.
In short, rural Texas property is more accessible than you think. Costs can be kept low through the wildlife tax valuation and by camping rather than building a more permanent structure, at least right away. Think about it: wouldn’t it be nice to get out of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or Austin once in a while to camp under the stars? If you need more information on wildlife and habitat management or tips on what to look for when searching for Texas land for sale, give us a holler. We will give you a holler when we get back from the country.