Gillespie County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Gillespie County sits in the Texas Hill Country around Fredericksburg, northwest of San Antonio, where cattle, sheep, goats, horses, exotics, vineyards, and orchards are important rural land uses. Gillespie Central Appraisal District's guidance is particularly useful because it sets a native-range stocking range, a two-animal-unit floor for livestock, and a clear colony formula for the county's small apiary tracts.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| native range | 20 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
Beekeeping Intensity Standards
| Acreage Range | Base Hives | Extra Hives/Acre (above base) | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–20 acres | 6 | 0.4 | ✓ Verified |
Animal Unit Equivalencies
An animal unit (AU) is a standardized measure used to compare livestock of different sizes. One AU = one 1,000-lb cow. Your total stocking rate is calculated in AUs, then multiplied by the acres-per-AU standard for your pasture type. These values are published by the county.
| Animal | Animal Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| cow or cow and calf | 1 | County-published |
| mature bull | 1.25 | County-published |
| weaned calf to 1 year | 0.6 | County-published |
| steer one year old | 0.7 | County-published |
| steer two years old | 0.9 | County-published |
| horse | 1.25 | County-published |
| miniature horse | 0.5 | County-published |
| donkey or mule | 1.25 | County-published |
| miniature donkey or burro | 0.75 | County-published |
| bull elk | 0.6 | County-published |
| five ewes | 1 | County-published |
| four rams or buck sheep | 1 | County-published |
| eight lambs weaned to 1 year | 1 | County-published |
| six nanny goats or does | 1 | County-published |
| five billy goats or bucks | 1 | County-published |
| ten kid goats weaned to 1 year | 1 | County-published |
| six mature mutton goats | 1 | County-published |
| three llamas | 1 | County-published |
| six alpacas | 1 | County-published |
| bison | 1 | County-published |
| five axis or sika deer | 1 | County-published |
| six fallow deer | 1 | County-published |
| five aoudad | 1 | County-published |
| seven sika deer | 1 | County-published |
| two red deer | 1 | County-published |
| two scimitar horned oryx | 1 | County-published |
| eland | 1 | County-published |
| three emus | 1 | County-published |
| two ostriches | 1 | County-published |
| seven white tailed deer | 1 | County-published |
| nine blackbuck antelope | 1 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Gillespie County allows wildlife management as a qualifying use. Landowners must implement at least 3 of the seven recognized wildlife management practices defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
A tract must be appraised as qualified open-space land, have wildlife management as its primary use, and be actively managed under a wildlife management plan. The owner must select and implement at least 3 wildlife-management practices each year, and the tract must meet the 20-acre minimum tract size, if applicable. In addition to the 1-d-1 agricultural use application, a state wildlife management plan (state form PWD 885-W7000) must be submitted.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- State wildlife management plan (state form PWD 885-W7000), if applying for wildlife management
- Copy of the written lease, if using a written lease for agricultural use
- Letter from the lessee stating the agricultural use, livestock number or planted acreage, lease duration, and lessee contact information, if using an oral lease
Discretionary Caveats
"Please note that these guidelines are to be used as a general guide for qualifying agricultural land. Operations not covered in these guidelines and exceptions to this guide will be handled on a case-by-case basis."
"Variations of the above listed operations and non-typical operations will be handled on a case by case basis by the appraisal district."
"To receive a productivity appraisal the land must be used to the degree of intensity typical in the area as defined by the Chief Appraiser and the Agriculture Advisory Board."
"Livestock operations in GCAD’s jurisdiction must have a minimum of two animal units of animals. Operations with larger properties need more animal units."
"Minimum acreage not stated in published document — confirm with CAD."
Frequently Asked Questions — Gillespie County
- GCAD requires at least 2 animal units for livestock operations and lists native range at 20–25 acres per animal unit in normal rainfall years. Two animal units therefore need about 40–50 acres of native range.
- GCAD starts at 6 colonies on 5 acres and adds 1 hive for every additional 2.5 acres. Fifteen acres has 10 additional acres, so 10 ÷ 2.5 = 4 additional hives and 6 + 4 = 10 active colonies.
- No. The published guidance says a typical cropland field has a 5-acre minimum, so a 4-acre field is 1 acre below that threshold.
- The tract must already be qualified open-space land, have wildlife management as its primary use, meet the 20-acre minimum if applicable, and carry out at least 3 wildlife-management practices. The owner also submits the state wildlife management plan with the 1-d-1 application.
Gillespie Central Appraisal District
- Phone
- 830-997-9807
- office@gillcad.org
- Address
- 1159 S. Milam St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624
- Website
- https://www.gillespiecad.org
Nearby Counties
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