Severely abridged addition to fit into the limited space allowed on the state email form. The full version will be mailed (and emailed to any "real" email addresses I can obtain.

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I am writing to request your opposition to HB 2414, relating to hunting from public roads or rights-of-way. Please consider the following points when deciding on your vote.



HB2414 would make it illegal to save a turtle’s life by moving it off of the road:

TPWD currently defines hunting as “the pursuit with the intent to capture or kill”. Also, capture is loosely interpreted as exercising any control or limitation over the movement of an animal. Any concerned citizen that tries to remove a turtle from the path of traffic must “pursue it with the intent to capture”. Ironically, it would not be illegal to “accidentally” run over the same turtle.



HB2414 would make it illegal for a 10 year old to chase after a lizard at a rest stop:

If a child chases a lizard at a road side rest stop, he is “pursuing it with the intent to capture.” Does Texas really want to criminalize the natural curiosity of a child?



HB2414 would make it illegal for a photographer to pose or limit the movement of an animal while taking a picture:

A citizen or tourist would be in violation of this bill if he/she tried to take a picture of an animal and used any means to control the animal’s freedom of movement.



HB2414 would make it illegal for citizens to collect scientific data by collecting and preserving road killed animals:

Many amateur naturalists collect road killed animals for research and preservation. Many of these animals are donated to schools and museums for important scientific study.



HB2414 would make it illegal for reptile and amphibian enthusiasts to pursue their hobby in virtually the only land in Texas that is currently open to them:

Approximately 98% of the land in Texas is either privately owned or protected as state or national park land. Additionally, most of the Wildlife Management Areas and state owned hunting land prohibit the collection of reptiles or amphibians (I’ve never understood why it is legal to shoot a deer in a WMA but illegal to pick-up a frog).



HB2414 would make Texas the first state in the USA to ban the public from pursuing reptiles and amphibians along public roads and right-of-ways:

There are currently zero states that ban this method of collection. This bill would make Texas the ONLY state in the nation to ban the public from pursuing reptiles and amphibians along public roads and right-of-ways.



HB2414 would deprive TPWD from revenue generated by the purchase of hunting licenses:

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of reptile enthusiasts would have no reason to purchase a hunting license if this bill passed.



HB2414 would deprive rural communities across Texas of much need tourism dollars:

Thousands of reptile and amphibian enthusiasts travel from various regions of Texas, other states and even foreign countries to spend their vacation time and dollars in rural Texas towns in order to collect or observe the wonderful reptiles and amphibians of this great state. Hotel operators and other retailers in some rural towns depend on these tourism dollars to remain in business during their off-seasons.



HB2414 would greatly reduce the revenue generated by Texas’ world famous rattlesnake round-ups:

A very high percentage of the rattlesnakes collected for rattlesnake round-ups are collected from public roads and ROWs. This bill would prohibit this collection and thereby reduce the numbers of rattlesnakes collected and revenue generated by these highly profitable fundraisers.



HB2414 claims to be directed at limiting commercial collection, but its broad language would also ban recreational or scientific collection and observation:

The vast majority of reptile and amphibian “collectors” collect very few reptiles or amphibians from the wild. Most simply enjoying the sport, making observations, collecting data, and releasing almost all of the animals they encounter. Most of the reptiles that are collected are used in captive breeding programs that reduce the demand for wild caught animals. A separate bill to regulate or even ban commercial from the wild would have the support of the vast majority of reptile enthusiast.



HB2414 would make it very difficult for TPWD to gather data about the distribution and population densities of native reptiles and amphibians:

Some in TPWD have claimed this bill will protect sensitive populations of reptiles and amphibians. However, they admit that do not have ANY data to support this claim. In fact TPWD has NEVER conducted any significant studies of our native reptiles and amphibians. If this bill passes, many reptile and amphibian enthusiasts will blame TPWD for restricting our ability to protect and preserve our native reptiles and amphibians by studying them and establishing genetically diverse captive breeding programs. If that were to occur, very few reptile and amphibian enthusiasts would be willing to assist TPWD in any manner.



Thank you for your time and consideration,

Daryl L. Eby

Amateur Reptile Enthusiast

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