Gerald well said --these are the areas that need to be looked at. As far as the idea of tracking herpers or me giving my own itinerary's this sounds a little big brother to me, and also TWP doesn't have enough time or people to handle such an idea in my opinion, but they don't need to know what I am doing no matter how legit it is, if indeed the laws are written properly? Why is that no other state I am aware of wrestle with these issues and listen I am a California transplant so maybe my thinking is skewed - but you all think about this. When I came to Texas I found out quickly besides roads and river or stream beds most of the land is fenced off. In California land open to the public everywhere. SO what is being protected here the roads? Unless a rancher o.k.'s your access there are millions and millions of acres of land with every kind of specie in situ and still unaccessible by herpers. So if you think about it, take the Texas Horned Lizard? While it is a endangered specie, no doubt urban sprawl and other issues and some unknowns are contributing to its demise, but I know of rancher properties in Medina County that have extremely healthy populations of THL's. So you might see one on the road every once in awhile, but I guarantee you throughout Texas there are great populations of these lizards. All my research on the Reticulate Collared Lizard with the exception of a few nice ranchers has been done on the roadside?

I hope Joe and others will address the verbiage issue, but while it is not an in alienable right to access land, the disparagement between public access and Ranch land is huge? Also the disparagement between a hobbyist and others are muddied in my opinion by the fact that all like the word "non-game" which could be a raccoon, or an armadillo a lizard or a snake. Why doesn't someone look at the Arizona verbiage. Its clear or pretty clear in my opinion. Why are the laws verbiage mixed in such away that everything seems included under one type of ideology as far as the approach to our wildlife? Here is what I mean with no disrespect to commercials. If there is a commercial aspect to this then conclude language under such, if there is the average Joe or hobbyist or breeder etc, for non-commercial interests then conclude that under that heading? Also what is wrong with the idea of a permit to access roads and herp? Its done in most states and the funds go to management and enforcement. Instead of getting my fishing license, in California I got my reptile permit for one year it was $25.00 and I never had a problem? The verbiage of the California law says you may access these particular reptiles with your permit, anything else you need a special permit (scientific) for endangered or threatened specie. If your a commercial then you need to comply by a commercial permit which has its verbiage inclusive to your need for access?

I think we all need to look closely at the laws as currently set-up and make some changes that are viable for long term future.....
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