Hamilton County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Hamilton County sits on the western edge of Central Texas, roughly midway between Waco and Stephenville, where native-range livestock operations, orchards, vineyards, and beekeeping are established agricultural uses. Hamilton CAD's guidelines are particularly useful for landowners because they publish a 20-acre native-range stocking standard, a graduated active-hive table, and a 20-acre wildlife-management conversion threshold.
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 calf pair | 1 | County-published |
| mature bull | 1.25 | County-published |
| weaned calf | 0.6 | County-published |
| steer one year old | 0.7 | County-published |
| steer two years old | 0.9 | County-published |
| brood mare | 1.25 | County-published |
| five ewes | 1 | County-published |
| four rams or buck sheep | 1 | County-published |
| eight lambs weaned to one 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 one year | 1 | County-published |
| six mature mutton goats | 1 | County-published |
| elk | 0.6 | County-published |
| five axis aoudad fallow or mouflon | 1 | County-published |
| seven sika deer | 1 | County-published |
| two point five red deer | 1 | County-published |
| eland | 1 | County-published |
| three emus | 1 | County-published |
| two ostriches | 1 | County-published |
| seven white tailed deer | 1 | County-published |
| ten blackbuck antelope | 1 | County-published |
| three llamas | 1 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Hamilton 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. An annual wildlife management plan report is required.
The land must have qualified for and been appraised as 1-d-1 agricultural land in the tax year before conversion, and the tract must be 20 acres or larger. The owner must submit a TPWD-form Wildlife Management Plan describing at least three of seven practices. The Chief Appraiser requires an annual implementation report with supporting documents and a map, due April 30.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Wildlife Management Plan completed on a Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) form, if changing to wildlife management
- Annual wildlife management report with supporting documents for each activity and a map showing where each activity takes place, for property in wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"Unique or other operations will be considered on a case-by-case basis."
"Drought and weather conditions always apply in determining degree of intensity."
Frequently Asked Questions — Hamilton County
- Hamilton CAD's typical native-range standard is 20 acres per animal unit during normal rainfall. Three cow-calf animal units × 20 acres per animal unit = 60 acres.
- Hamilton CAD's published beekeeping table requires 9 active hives on 12.5 acres. The table starts at 6 hives on 5 acres and adds one hive for each additional 2.5 acres.
- No. Hamilton CAD says a tract that qualified for 1-d-1 in the prior year may qualify for wildlife management only if it is 20 acres or larger. A 15-acre tract is 5 acres below that threshold.
- Hamilton CAD says a qualifying orchard or vineyard includes a minimum of 10 acres. A 20-acre orchard is therefore twice that stated minimum.
Hamilton Central Appraisal District
- Phone
- 254-386-8945
- cmccarn@hamiltoncad.org
- Address
- P.O. Box 352, Hamilton, TX 76531-0352
- Website
- https://www.hamiltoncad.org
Nearby Counties
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