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Denton County wildlife report deadline

Checked November 5, 2026

Every year, before May 1

Denton CAD requires a wildlife management annual report every year, along with documentation such as receipts and photos. If you don't file it, the district requires a new application and wildlife plan for the next tax year.

Annual report required?	Yes, every year
Due date	Before May 1 each year, per the district's FAQ. Questions: DCAD agricultural department, (940) 349-3940.
If you miss it	A new application and wildlife management plan are required for the next tax year
Source	DCAD Local Agricultural & Wildlife Policy (revised Dec. 11, 2025); Denton CAD Ag & Timber page

Denton County ag valuation standards

From the district's minimum degree-of-intensity standards. Denton CAD reviews every application regardless of acreage, and at least 90% of the land applied for should be in active ag use.

Application	Form 50-129, due April 30. Late filing is accepted until the appraisal records are approved (usually mid-July), with a 10% penalty.
History	Ag use in 5 of the last 7 years (5 years in a row inside city limits)
Homesite	Typically 1 acre or more; it doesn't count toward ag land
Minimum acreage	Improved pasture 3 ac · native pasture 5 ac · dry crop 5 ac · orchard or vineyard 3 ac · hay 3 ac · bees 5–20 ac · wildlife 14.3 ac (11.1 in a co-op) if the tract got smaller
Livestock	At least 1 animal unit on pasture for most of the year (183 days)
Stocking rate	1 animal unit per 6 acres of improved pasture or 12 acres of native pasture year-round (1 per 3 or 6 acres if grazed 6 months)
Animal units	Cow 1 · cow/calf 1.15 · calf 0.5 · bull 1.5 · horse 1.25 · mini horse or donkey 0.5 · goat or sheep 0.2 · exotics 1,000 lb = 1
Hay	1–3 cuttings in a typical year
Bees	6 active hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 per 2.5 acres, up to 12 on 20 acres; hives on the property at least 6 months a year
Proof the district may ask for	Written lease, receipts for feed, fertilizer, animals or equipment, vet bills, profit and loss or tax returns, dated photos, or a notarized affidavit from the prior owner or neighbors

Bought land that already had ag valuation? It stays through that tax year, then you must reapply in your name by April 30 of the next year.

What to keep for Denton County

Whether or not Denton County asks for a report this year, keep dated proof that you carried out at least three of the seven wildlife management practices in your plan:

A log of each activity: the date, what you did, where and how much
Dated photos of the work (feeders, water, brush piles, cleared brush)
Receipts and invoices for feed, seed, materials and contractors
Census sheets with dates, routes and numbers seen

Read our plain-English guide to the annual report (PWD-888) for the full 3-of-7 rule, or see deadlines for other counties.

Who to contact in Denton County

Appraisal district	Denton Central Appraisal District
Address	3911 Morse St., Denton, TX 76208-6331
Phone	(940) 349-3800
Local help with your plan	Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Denton County

The appraisal district decides your wildlife valuation and sets any report deadline, so call them if a letter or form doesn't match what's on this page. Your county AgriLife Extension office can help with a wildlife management plan.

Denton County habitat: Cross Timbers and Prairies

Texas Parks and Wildlife places Denton County in the Cross Timbers and Prairies ecoregion. Its Cross Timbers and Prairies wildlife management guidelines set the minimum work for each practice. A few examples:

Habitat control: Brush management: treat at least 10% of the plan area or 10 acres per year, whichever is smaller.
Supplemental food: Feeders: at least 1 free-choice feeder per 320 acres in use during the recommended period, with feed of at least 16% crude protein.
Supplemental water: Wildlife watering facility (well, trough, guzzler): at least one project per 10 years, or consistent water management at existing sites.
Census counts: Spotlight counts: at least 3 counts, or at least 15 surveyed miles, completed each year.

Your own plan may set different targets. Log what you actually do against it, with dates and photos.

Never miss your county's deadline

Habitat Ledger keeps your practice logs, dated photos and receipts in one place, shows your county's report deadline on your dashboard, emails you before it's due, and prints your annual report.

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Deadlines and rules come from each appraisal district's own published guidelines, checked November 5, 2026. Districts can change them, and your district's letters, forms and deadlines always apply. Habitat Ledger is not affiliated with any appraisal district or Texas Parks and Wildlife.