Braun & Gresham was proud to return as a Gold Sponsor of the Texas Wildlife Association’s Annual Convention. We are honored to support TWA’s mission to serve Texas landowners and promote the responsible stewardship, conservation, and management of our state’s wildlife and natural resources.

This year’s Private Lands Summit focused on Keeping Trouble Outside the Fenceline. The conversations covered wildlife crime, agricultural theft, stray livestock, risk management, and practical steps landowners can take to better protect their property.

In this article, we will explore some of the biggest takeaways.

Risk Management Begins Before Someone Arrives

During Braun & Gresham’s Risk Management Planning Workshop, Principal Attorney Cassie Gresham and Attorney Corina “Cory” Raven discussed how landowners can prepare for the risks that come with visitors, hunters, contractors, recreational activities, and other uses of private property.

One of the simplest and most important precautions is maintaining properly drafted and signed liability waivers.

Waivers should be reviewed regularly, signed before the activity begins, and stored where they can be located when needed. As a practical habit, landowners may also want to keep copies available in their vehicles or wherever guests typically arrive.

A waiver is only one part of a broader risk management plan. Landowners should also evaluate:

• Who is allowed on the property
• What activities are permitted
• Whether leases and agreements clearly assign responsibilities
• Whether insurance coverage matches current property uses
• How accidents and emergencies should be reported
• Addressing and warning of dangerous conditions

Planning before an incident occurs can reduce confusion and help protect the land, the landowner, and the people using the property.

Building a Lock Tight Lease

The Private Lands Summit concluded with a live recording of the Ag Law in the Field Podcast featuring Marshall Bowen of Shield Ranch, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Cassie Gresham of Braun & Gresham.

Their conversation focused on building a “lock tight” agricultural lease.

A strong lease should do more than identify the property and the rent. It should clearly address the parties’ expectations, permitted uses, maintenance responsibilities, insurance, access, improvements, livestock, hunting rights, termination, and what happens when circumstances change.

Informal arrangements may feel easier at the beginning, especially when the parties know and trust one another. However, clear written terms can preserve those relationships by reducing uncertainty and preventing disagreements later.

Podcast Recording Coming Soon.

Know the People Protecting Your Property

One message was reinforced throughout the summit: do not wait for an incident to occur before learning who serves and protects your area.

Texas Game Wardens and Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers are important resources for rural landowners. Game Wardens investigate wildlife, hunting, fishing, boating, and other violations. TSCRA Special Rangers investigate agricultural crimes involving livestock, trailers, equipment, fraud, and other rural property.

You do not have to be a TSCRA member to contact a Special Ranger for assistance with suspected agricultural crime.

Take time now to identify:

• The Texas Game Warden assigned to your county: click here
• Your local TSCRA Special Ranger: click here
• Your county sheriff’s nonemergency contact information: click here
• Trusted neighbors who can help watch your property

Agricultural Crime Is a Real Risk

Agricultural theft may involve cattle, horses, tractors, trailers, saddles, tools, fuel, wire, and other equipment. Rural properties can be particularly vulnerable because they often contain valuable assets across large or isolated areas.

If property is stolen, contact your local police department or sheriff first. Then contact the TSCRA Special Ranger assigned to your area. Be prepared to provide photographs, identifying numbers, the approximate time of the theft, and information about suspicious people or vehicles.

Simple precautions can help deter crime and provide better evidence if something is stolen.

Visit TSCRA’s Theft Prevention Tips.

TSCRA offers a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and/or grand jury indictment of individuals for theft of livestock or related property. Click here to learn more.

Protecting Texas Wildlife: The True Cost of Poaching

Poaching is more than the illegal taking of wildlife. It affects landowners, conservation efforts, lawful hunters, and the long-term management of wildlife populations.

During the presentation from the Boone and Crockett Club and Wildlife Management Institute, attendees learned about the Poach & Pay Project, which examines the financial and conservation impacts of wildlife crime and the importance of holding offenders accountable for the full value of the wildlife they take.

Landowners are often among the first people to notice suspicious activity. Unfamiliar vehicles, damaged gates, gunshots at unusual hours, missing wildlife, and evidence left behind may all warrant closer attention.

What landowners can do:

• Document suspicious vehicles, license plates, dates, and times
• Avoid disturbing potential evidence
• Contact local law enforcement or your Texas Game Warden
• Submit detailed information through the appropriate wildlife crime reporting channel

Read the Full Poach & Pay Report

Register Livestock Brands Where You Operate

A livestock brand can help establish ownership, but it must be properly registered.

In Texas, brands are registered through the county clerk in each county where the livestock owner operates. If livestock are kept in multiple counties, the brand may need to be registered in each of those counties.

Landowners should confirm that their registrations are current and that their records accurately reflect both the design of the brand and its location on the animal.

Learn More About Texas Brand Registration

Preparation Is the Best First Line of Defense

The most important lesson from the Private Lands Summit was clear: Preparation is one of the most valuable tools a landowner can have.

Know the law enforcement officials who serve your area. Keep clear records of livestock and equipment. Review your leases, waivers, and insurance coverage. Establish a process for visitors and emergencies. Small steps taken now can make a significant difference when an unexpected problem arises.

Whether you are reviewing a lease, developing a risk management plan, or responding to a legal issue involving your property, our team is here to help you protect what you have built.

Join Us Next Year

We are proud to support the Texas Wildlife Association and the important work it does for Texas landowners, wildlife, and private lands. Consider becoming a TWA member, and we hope to see you at next year’s convention.