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Put Your Land to Good Use
Conservation Easements: What are They, and Could They be Right for You?
Wildlife Partners: Profit in Conservation
Exotic Exposé: Bongo Antelope
Austin Trophy Whitetails
With a 6,000-square-foot lodge that sleeps up to 24 as well as a private condo, Austin Trophy Whitetails pushes comfort into the realm of luxurious, rustic elegance. Impeccably decorated with an eye to the outdoors, the accommodations feature warm wood, native stone, high-end furnishings and fixtures that showcase artistic taxidermy representing species from around the world from Varner’s personal hunting expeditions. Unique décor, such as bar stools crafted from full-size western saddles, remind guests they ...
Preserving Lifestyles, Livelihoods and Investments
As landowners, cowboys, hands, outfitters, real estate brokers and suppliers, we are all stakeholders in the steeped American tradition of ranching, farming and recreational land use. We would be well served by becoming more aware and more organized ourselves, refuting disinformation, controlling the message and being more engaged in the process.
Tax Relief for Texas Landowners
Take advantage of ag-use valuations to lower your rural property taxes. If you own rural land in the Lone Star State, there are ways to reduce your property tax burden.
Maximizing the Value of Timber Income on Your Property
When owning timber-producing land, one of the most important considerations you can make is how to maximize the income that it generates.
Barndo Basics
Also known as a barn house or barndo, a barndominium is a dual- or multi-purpose structure that encompasses living space and a barn, workshop, or other workspaces under a single roof. Barndos are popular as no-frills buildings on recreational properties—complete with living quarters, a kitchen and even room for a few all-terrain vehicles and tractors.
What You Need to Know About Mineral & Surface Rights on Your Land
If you are planning to buy or sell land, it’s essential to know exactly which rights are included. As a landowner, you clearly control the fields, forests, ponds, buildings, and other things on the surface, but what about what’s below ground?
Property Improvements That Pay Off
Learn how to get more use and enjoyment from your property while increasing its value.
Hunting Heritage 2.0
“The overall goal of Hunting Heritage is educating Texans about wildlife and the role that hunting plays in conservation through wildlife and habitat management,” said David Brimager, TWA’s Director of Public Relations and a Certified Wildlife Biologist®. “Through our new initiative H2, we’re combining our existing long-term programs with several new ones into one focused, integrated effort to educate Texans across the board and help funnel them into the field through mentored hunting opportunities.”
Is Your Land Orchard-Ready? (Plus: Thanksgiving Cider Suggestions!)
Virginia's Foggy Ridge Cider founder Diane Flynt pioneered the hard-cidery craft in the region over 20 years ago. Here, we talk to her about her favorite ciders and the steps you need to consider to turn your land into a producing apple orchard.
Small Acreage, Big Impact for Wildlife
“From the agency’s perspective, size doesn’t matter when it comes to technical guidance or cost-share programs,” Siegmund said. “All landowners receive our best information for managing their properties, and cost-share money is awarded on the merit of the project, not on the size of the acreage.”
Wildlife Partners LLC: The Business of Conservation
Through his San Antonio-based company Wildlife Partners LLC, Brian Gilroy is in the business of non-native wildlife conservation.
First Impressions
Property entrances hold functional and aesthetic appeal for landowners. Gates are as much a part of Texas’ rural landscape as bluebonnets and wide-open spaces. But when it comes to design, tastes in the Lone Star State are as varied as the terrain.
COVID-19 Challenges & Silver Linings
Domestically, there are no hunting operations in the U.S. that are fully immune to the impacts of C-19 and a hammered economy. One could surmise that things could have been worse if this C-19 crisis would have hit during the Fall hunting seasons, but none the less, there are some hunting operations that had a large volume of business on their calendar for March, April and May. My business, Wildlife Systems, Inc. (WSI), had roughly ...
Landowner Liability, A Real but Manageable Threat
The threat of liability exists anytime landowners open their property to anyone, including family and friends.
New Opportunity for Forest Landowners
The Opportunity Zone Program, part of the new tax law, offers tax incentives that could impact forest landowners.
Seeking the Balanced Ranch
While states at lower elevations may have self-contained cattle operations, where all ranching operations occur on the same property, Colorado is a different story, with multiple properties necessary to form a “balanced” ranch.
Agriculture & Wildlife Tax Appraisal in Texas
If you’re a Texas landowner, you’re in good company; 97 percent of our state is privately owned and managed. Accompanying the thrill of owning property in Texas, though, is that all-too-familiar sting of the state’s high property taxes, which begs the question—how can landowners maximize the use of their property?
Just Add Water to Increase Your Land Value
In Texas, nothing attracts wildlife and birds to your property—and keeps them coming back—like water. And few property improvements are as likely to increase your land value as a pond, lake or stock tank.
Wildlife Management 101
I’m extremely fortunate to own, manage and control a respectable tract of leased and deeded ground in the Pacific Northwest. Taken with a laugh, my personal experience hasn’t been learned easily, nor done inexpensively via traditional venues. Private land wildlife management practices are commonly dominated by whitetail deer, a little waterfowl and an occasional fish or upland bird topic.
