Reptile & Amphibian Forums

of all alterna are collected off the roadways, versus from walking the cuts? It just seems that an awful lot of the specimens I've been hearing about lately have come off the road....

Regards
Brad Chambers

We have spent about fifty nights hunting for gray-bands during the last decade, netting seven (three of them on Juno Road in one night). All but one of ours were found crawling on the shoulder or across roads. The one we found on a cut was three miles east of Langtry at 9 pm while the temperature was still blistering hot - 99 degrees. I have heard others say that they find more on the cuts than on the roads, but our experience shows the opposite. We have spent many hours on foot hunting the cuts, searching holes and fissures as well as walking along the top of cuts, where many others have located gray-bands, but to no avail for us. I think finding alternas is a blend of luck and skill in knowing optimal conditions and locales.

Here's my records for ones I either collected or was present when collected.
Hwy. 277 5 on cuts, 4 on the road or shoulder.
Langtry 1 on a cut, 1 on the road.
Davis 1 on a cut.
Lajitas 1 on the road.

For me, it depends on the year. Last year, I walked and saw three animals....other years, I see the majority on the road. I have had years that some were on the road and some were found walking. The nice thing about walking, as has been stated numerous times, is you see a lot more life. On the other hand, there is nothing like having the ice chest right there for a cool drink. My 2 cents...

LOL Gerold-I heard ya there-about 3 am I get to the point that I wish I could take the Mountain Dew intravenously!

So far it looks like pretty much a tossup. So maybe this year I'll try dividing our time 50% cruising and 50% walking. Thats pretty much a mix that suits my temperament - helps break up the monotony and maybe will keep me awake!

Thanks all!
Brad Chambers

Ok these figures are meaningless without a little context-just what percentage of your EFFORT was put into each activity? If I spend 2 hours a night driving, and 8 hours walking the cuts, and I catch 2 alterna for each activity,then I'm darn well going to spend more time road cruising!

So-how many hours are you putting into road cruising versus walking?

Brad Chambers

About 50:50....I have walked all night...I have driven all night....you are correct, though, these are all probably meaningless statistics. I am fairly cheap...so if I am not seeing things driving...I like to walk and not spend the gas $....but if things are moving...it is fun to see a lot of animals on the road. It looks like things might be boring this year if the region doesn't get more rain ....GMerker

Well, at least the short term news is good-forecast for Alpine, TX calls for showers and thunderstorms for the next two days!

Brad Chambers

I do not have the largest sampling size, as I have only found 3. 1 AOR, 1 Shining, and one walking. Now I found all 3 last year, and was shutout for alterna the prior 6.

This girl I found on a night I decided to walk all night. Well I actually found here just past 9, but I had planned to walk one section all night.

When i found this snake I was just shining cuts, as I was listening to the Spurs win the NC. All I was doing shining all night.

This little guy was found cruising. I was seeing a few snakes AOR east of sanderson. So I was just keeping on the move. I walked cuts latter on but 90% of the hunting was road cruising.

So I believe they are where they are, and you find em when you find em. Do the one that kepts you alert and less likely to zone out.

That first one is killer! And the others ain't bad either!
Todd Hughes

Two on cuts, Langtry and 277 and two in the middle of the road, 277 and Musquiz Canyon.