Habitat Ledger › County deadlines › Smith County
Smith County wildlife report and ag valuation rules
Checked November 6, 2026
Annual report required every year; no posted date
Smith CAD says an annual wildlife report is due every year to keep wildlife valuation; it does not post a due date. The land must have had 1-d-1 ag valuation the previous year and use 3 of 7 practices.
| Annual report required? | Yes, every year |
|---|---|
| Due date | Not posted |
| Source | Smith County Appraisal District (checked Nov. 6, 2026) |
What to keep for Smith County
Whether or not Smith 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 Smith County
Running cattle, cutting hay or farming instead of managing for wildlife? These are the Smith County Appraisal District’s published degree-of-intensity standards for the 1-d-1 agricultural valuation.
Smith CAD recommends at least 5–10 acres of improved pasture or 10–20 acres of native/wooded pasture; land under 5 acres total is not eligible. Keep at least 2 animal units. Typical stocking is about 1 cow per 5 acres on improved pasture and 1 cow per 10 acres on native or wooded pasture. Under 20 acres native (or 10 acres improved) you must show you can supplement feed.
| Minimum acres | 5 acres (grazing) |
|---|---|
| Minimum animals | 2 animal units |
| Improved pasture | 5 acres per animal unit |
| Native pasture | 10 acres per animal unit |
| Hay | Recommended minimum 5 acres of hay; at least 2 cuttings a year with 2–3 round (4x4) bales or 30–40 square bales per acre per cutting. Only the hay-producing area qualifies. |
| Crops and orchards | Recommended minimum 5 acres of cropland, free of brush, worked, fertilized and planted for income, aiming for the average county yield. Orchards: recommended minimum 5 acres, commercial (wholesale) operation. |
| Beekeeping | 5–20 acres. 6 hives on the first 5 acres plus 1 more hive for each additional 2.5 acres (12 hives on 20 acres). Hives must be kept on the property at least 7 months of the year. |
| History and filing | Land must have been in agriculture 5 of the past 7 years. Owners carry the burden of proof and must give the chief appraiser what is needed; the district may send ag-use surveys. Contiguous parcels with the same owner are treated as one property. |
| Source | Smith County Appraisal District Guidelines for Qualification for 1-D-1 Open-Space and Timberland Appraisal · 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 Smith County
| Appraisal district | Smith County Appraisal District |
|---|---|
| Address | 245 S. S.E. Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75702-6456 |
| Phone | (903) 510-8600 |
| Local help with your plan | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Smith 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.