Habitat Ledger › County deadlines › Orange County
Orange County wildlife report and ag valuation rules
Checked November 6, 2026
Report rules not posted; call to confirm
Orange County Appraisal District doesn’t post its wildlife annual report rules online, so plan on April 30 and call the district to confirm at (409) 745-4777.
| Annual report required? | Not posted; ask the district |
|---|---|
| Due date | Not posted |
What to keep for Orange County
Whether or not Orange 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.
Ag valuation in Orange County
Running cattle, cutting hay or farming instead of managing for wildlife? These are the Orange County Appraisal District’s published degree-of-intensity standards for the 1-d-1 agricultural valuation.
Pasture needs at least 5 acres, fenced on all 4 sides with access to water. Native pasture must carry 1 animal unit per 5 acres and improved pasture 1 per 3 acres, with at least 3 animal units (1 cow or 1 brood mare = 1 unit). Goats on native pasture: 5 acres and 5 animal units. Homesite treatment is not stated.
| Minimum acres | 5 acres (grazing) |
|---|---|
| Minimum animals | 3 animal units |
| Improved pasture | 3 acres per animal unit |
| Native pasture | 5 acres per animal unit |
| Hay | Hay needs at least 5 acres, fertilized and cut twice a year (weather permitting), yielding 3 round or 50 square bales per acre. The district's hay supplement asks for at least 2,400 lb of dry forage per acre per cutting, weed and brush control, and yearly spring fertilizing. |
| Crops and orchards | Orchards need 2 acres with 50 trees per acre and must market produce. Christmas trees need 5 acres with 400 trees per acre. Aquaculture needs 5 acres of stocked man-made tanks with sales. Timber needs 10 acres. |
| Beekeeping | Beekeeping needs 5–20 acres: 6 hives on 5 acres, plus 1 hive for every 2.5 acres more, up to 12 hives. |
| History and filing | Land must have ag use in 5 of the last 7 years and qualify on January 1. Apply before May 1 (60-day extension on written request). Send cost and expense information with the application; typical evidence includes leases, expense receipts, sales receipts, photos and memberships. |
| Leases and small tracts | Lease agreements are listed as typical evidence of ag use; the questionnaire asks for the lessee's name and address. |
| Source | Orange County Appraisal District Productivity Guidelines · checked Nov. 6, 2026 |
An animal unit is one cow (or cow-calf pair); a horse counts as one, and about five goats or sheep make one, though some districts count them differently. See what Texas requires for ag valuation. Your appraisal district has the final say, so call them if anything here doesn’t match your letter.
Who to contact in Orange County
| Appraisal district | Orange County Appraisal District |
|---|---|
| Address | 9157 IH-10 E., Orange, TX 77630 |
| Phone | (409) 745-4777 |
| Local help with your plan | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Orange 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.