Keep My Acres
Trinity County ag and wildlife valuation: what to file, and when
Everything goes to the Trinity County Appraisal District in Groveton, between January 1 and April 30. Trinity is one of the few East Texas districts that publishes its own ag rules. Here they are in plain English.
Checked against the Texas Tax Code, the Comptroller's county directory, and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Updated October 2026.
Running late? Ask Trinity CAD in writing before the 30th for up to 60 more days.
123 S. Main St., Groveton · (936) 642-1502
And about 1 cow per 5 acres on larger tracts, per Trinity CAD's guidelines.
What's happening with your Trinity County land?
Bought land with ag valuation?
The old owner's approval usually ends at the sale. File your own application with Trinity CAD by April 30. If the same people keep using it the same way, you may have up to a year. How it works
Switching to wildlife?
Your land has to already be under ag or timber valuation. You file the wildlife plan and a new 1-d-1 application together. How it works
Keeping bees?
Bees qualify on 5 to 20 acres. Trinity CAD's guidelines ask for 6 hives on 5 acres, 1 more for every 2.5 acres over that, and honey sold commercially. Keep sale receipts.
What Trinity County expects, use by use
From Trinity CAD's published guidelines. These are typical levels, not hard minimums. Smaller tracts are reviewed case by case.
At least 75% open to grazing (no more than 25% wooded), at least 5 mother cows, and about 1 cow per 5 acres on larger tracts. Smaller tracts reviewed case by case.
Breeding only: at least 3 mares producing colts, proof of colt sales, about 1 horse per 2.5 acres. Boarding, training and show operations typically don't qualify.
At least 7 nannies, land to support 7 goats per 5 acres. Meat or milk, not show only.
At least 7 ewes, land to support 7 sheep per 5 acres. Wool or mutton, not show only.
Proof of 2 cuttings in a normal year, fertilized 300 to 500 lbs per acre early in the year, no animals on the hayfield in the growing season.
Must have qualified for ag or timber the year before, a TPWD wildlife plan, 95% of the land devoted to wildlife management, and 3 of the 7 practices.
5 to 20 acres, commercial sale, may need honey sale receipts or a distribution contract.
Timber management plan required with the application on 20 acres or less. Restricted-use timber needs its own application.
Source: Trinity CAD guidelines (PDF), adopted by its Ag/Timber Advisory Board.
Pineywoods rules, short version
Trinity County is in Texas Parks and Wildlife's Pineywoods region. The state requires at least 3 of 7 wildlife activities. On most tracts here, these four are the easiest to do and to prove.
Predator control
Hog trapping or shooting. Write down dates and counts.
Supplemental food
Feeders you already run, or a small food plot. Keep receipts.
Shelter
Brush piles from clearing, or nest boxes for bluebirds or wood ducks.
Census counts
A game-camera survey or a spotlight count, written down.
See all 7 activities and where the state's standards are
- Habitat control
- Erosion control
- Predator control
- Supplemental water
- Supplemental food
- Shelter
- Census counts
How much of each you have to do is set in Texas Parks and Wildlife's Pineywoods guidelines.
Missed April 30?
Trinity CAD can still accept a late application until its review board approves the year's records, with a penalty of 10% of that year's tax savings. If you bought land and the same people keep using it the same way, a 2026 law gives you until a year after closing, with no penalty.
Stopped running cattle? Read this first.
Selling off the whole herd can cost you more than the valuation. It can trigger rollback tax: the difference for the last 3 years. How rollback works and how to avoid it.
Is Trinity CAD's word final?
Yes. The guidelines say the chief appraiser has final say and that smaller tracts are reviewed case by case. Meeting every number helps, but the district can still ask for more, like receipts or a management plan.
File with Trinity CAD by April 30.
Late filings get a 10% penalty, and once the records are approved they stop taking them.
Land across the county line?
Each county has its own appraisal district. File with the one where the land sits.