The Wildlife Conservation Land Program offers deferred taxes for landowners that manage property for protected wildlife species, priority wildlife habitat, or Wildlife Reserve Lands. The land must be at least 20 contiguous acres and have been owned for at least 5 years. Homesites, developed areas, lawns and farm acreage are not eligible. If interested, the first step is to determine whether you lands meet one of the criteria below.
Qualifying land criteria includes one of the following:- An animal that is listed as endangered, threatened or special concern has been identified on the property
- The land is a priority habitat such as longleaf pine forest, small wetland community, has a stream or riparian buffer, is an early successional habitat or serves as a bat cave, as examples.
- Allows hunting, fishing, shooting, wildlife observation or other wildlife activity with an agreement from the landowner to sustain such activities. Sustaining will include activities such as providing supplemental food, water, or shelter; or to provide erosion control when needed; or to maintain or provide predator control; or agree to animal population census, as examples.
