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I mean really, this year in particular, I have found myself wondering what makes that long drive to Texas and the, many times, dismal night hunting so enjoyable and sought after? I really want to go and hunt that place even though I've done it several times before and have been lucky enough to find a HUGE grand total of 4 alterna over the years LOL. Trying to legitimize the desire has caused me some confusion. I guess having my wife give me trouble over my wanting to go is what has inspired my question of why?

For starters, I know it isn't the hunting alone because as we all know, it can really suck out there. We've all had nights when not a single snake was seen. So, superficially I came to the conclusion of it being a complex combination of variables that makes it so desirable to hunt the region. The quality of herps once you find them is pretty cool, at least to me. The social time is great and over the years I've slowly crawled out of my anti-social behavioral problems to enjoy it even more. The landscape is intoxicating, at least for me it is, and I take great joy in seeing and photographing it. And the quality of herps is one thing, but the variation in the treasure we call alterna is another. I guess all of that plus the excitement of "what will I see next" is what drives me to hunt West Texas. Not to mention the fact that I like everything. I’ll be out during the day chasing lizards, insects and even flowers if I’m able (able = awake).

Unfortunately, it’s not something you can understand if you don’t understand (if that makes any sense). It would be like me trying to understand why my wife likes doing some of the crazy things she does. Trying to explain the passion of herping and even more so, West Texas herping is not easy.

So, at this point, I probably won’t be there in June. BUT, I might be there in August or September. Not that CANT put my foot down, but that I won’t since I get to do a lot already. She just adds balance to my life.

Make it or not, I wish all of you the best of luck this season.

Brad

I dunno, but it must be pretty powerful-it's somehow inducing me to leave this Sunday on a 32 hour drive!

Seriously, I agree with you-to anyone with a naturalistic bent, the Trans-Pecos has an almost irresistable draw. I've visited a lot of frairly remote areas-from the Bahaman out islands, to the swamp forests of the deep south, to the vast lake country of the far north. But nowhere brings me back again and again like SW texas. even on those snakeless nights, we seem to have a ball!

Hope to see a lot of you next week! There hasn't been a lot of rain, but there has been a little here and there...hopefully enough to get stuff moving. With a little luck, maybe the clouds will open up for us in the next week.

Brad Chambers

I will be making my first trip to West Texas the first week of June. I have been an Alterna keeper/breeder for several years, and have a huge obsession for rattlesnakes. The stories that I hear from those who have been have painted a vivid picture. I am a 33 year old man who is like a kid on Christmas eve. June 3rd can not come quick enough. Thanks for sharing your passion for the area. I'm sure my 1st trip will not be my last.

Happy Herping,

TJ

We'll have a cold Shiner and some fajitas waiting for you on Saturday afternoon... then we'll get to work on that rattlesnake fascination! I'm looking forward to it.

Seniors and senoiritas,

West Texas is everything that has been said on this string, from the chance of finding something new, to the landscape -it is simply alluring. I used to go out every day after school and go herping in S. Florida. Most days were so-so, but the chance of finding the occasional indigo or scarlet king kept me going. And you know something? The same thrill is there (as an adult) when I go to some place new, whether it be Central or South America or the Caribbean. The chance of finding the "prize" or simply the unexpected, is the drawing factor.

I have been skunked many a night, but those occasional nights that I "hit" the line where I may find a number of herps is fantastic!

By the way, Brad, I found your article in the vivarium an inspiration for keeping Tropidophis.

Swiss

Wow, Swiss-though I got some notice for that article 15 years ago, it's been a while since anyone mentioned it! Thanks for the kind words-you have quite a memory! I greatly enjoyed both working with and writing about Bahaman reptiles.

Hope I run into you in west Texas.

Brad Chambers

Why is it so appealing? I think that its the feeling of being so far away from all the crazy people in the cities. The fact that any cut may have an alterna on it or the fact that you never know what kind of snake you might see with its head hanging out of a crack. My love for the area started in college yes SRSU that made it very easy for me to go herping. I did not have to drive far to try and find snakes. I now live in deep south texas Falfurrias if anyone knows were that is but I can not help but want to go back. I went recently for a few days and went out only one night in the christmas's we only saw one blacktail but it was worth it. That area needs rain to bring things out. But i suspect that the snakes will be moving soon. Matt

I think it is always the thrill of the hunt. Any hunter of any quarry know what I'm talkin' about! Being a Florida boy, I like the different smells, the walking at night with a light, etc. It's definitely a change of pace.

Its everything Brad said plus getting to see old friends that live there that some of us only get to see once a year, ive been trying to move down there for a couple years now but just cant find a job that will pay the bills, maby some day

Maybe it's the mystique of the desert. It is so vast and the cuts are amazing. Every time I go it reminds me of my first hunting trips. The challenge, driven to stay up later than everyone else to see all the animals you can. The snakes that you can possibly see are better than anywhere else (Milks, GB's, Subocs, Bairds etc...)
I enjoy it every time I can. It's not the food. San Antonio food is much better. The drinks are ok. I am sure each of us has a particular song, movie or book that reminds them of hunting in West Texas. Again I just can't get over the landscape. It's like the first time you crossed the Pecos on the high bridge... Now days I go to just have fun and spend time with folks I don't hardly get to see the rest of the year.
Only 1 week left.... and I can't wait.

Steven

Yep, there really is more to see and hear than the snakes... I look forward to seeing the ringtails again, and lizards galore. But to find a grayband... now that's a challenge! Hoping to put faces with names and share some cervezas and fajitas and swap stories...when I get one! LOL! It is a special place and I will be there starting this Sat. with my better half for the first time. I bet she gets one and I ...NO, I won't say it! LOL! See ya' 'round the Bend!
Todd Hughes

i've always leavin' for langtry....that's the way i schedule my life....since '77 i've been chasin' blair's, graybands, mexicana, alterna...whatever some taxonomist decides to call 'em...made life long amigos....spent 14 days in a trailer with no crapper...slept on the dirt in a blazer with a flat and a flat spare...and dead battery...comin' from philly with its industrial sky, the celestial events in the tp area were in-stinkin'-credible....all these ......i got remarried in last july, she already knew...last 2 weeks of june are blocked out for langtry.....DUUUDE, i've done some crazy things, scroll down for an example.....yo, like i thought i eas chasin' the snakes...in reality they been chasin' back every year......
every time i think i escaped.....THEY PULL ME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

West Texas draws my son and me back like no other place we've ever herped before. Not to say that we have not enjoyed our forays into the Mojave in Socal in search of rosy boas, our occasional successful hunts for zonatas near our home, or our herping in Arizona, which has a richness and diversity of herps, fauna, flora, and geology to die for.

But western Texas is an altogether different animal. Some call it "mystique"; others call it "ambiance". Whatever you call it, if you've gone there once and got "bit by the bug", and find yourself going there year after year at great financial cost, then you understand what some have referred to as the alterna subculture, and others have called the "West Texas draw".

However, it is not just the graybands that attract us. We've spent in the aggregate more than 50 nights hunting from the Huecos to Loma Alta and most points between, only finding 7 alternas (3 in one night on Juno in 2004). There has to be more than this that brings us back. I think part of it is the diversity of animal life that is not apparent as one drives through this region during the daytime hours. During our dusk to dawn hunts, we've seen ringtail cats, porcupines, badgers, skunks, coyotes, deer, pronghorns, armadillos, javelinas, and jackrabbits (some of which have ended up as hood ornaments due to thier indecisive nature on the highways). Another draw is the absolute and stark beauty of the mountains, the geology, and the overall photogenecity of the region.

We'll be back during the dark of the moon in June, to bring our tally to well over 60 nights of hunting the Trans-Pecos. That we may be skunked in terms of alterna is a foregone conclusion. However, even if we don't see any GB's, we are sure to see many other interesting herps. Our best week in terms of numbers of snakes has been 57, an average of about 5-6 per night. That, along with the "mystique", will bring us back.

It is one place where the herpers have pretty much "won" their freedom, at least more so than most other states. In CA we have pretty strict limitations on what we can take, 1 zonata, 2 rosy boas, 4 cal kings, 2 or none of most everything else. Texas you pretty much buy your licenses and you can collect what you want with few exceptions. At least that is my perspective since all the things I would want are collectable. I know it wasn't always this way so there's more.
The fact that there is so much habitat and pretty much noone flips rocks means that you do not get there and find your favorite spot torn up is good. I have heard of some road cuts getting torn up but this pales in comparision to what you can see in California where there are hundreds of rock outcrops in otherwise pristine areas torn to shreds. Even the worst crowded nights road hunting are not as bad as that and you can always find cuts to walk in relative peace.
Almost every species is different from what I see in CA and there is an abundance of really cool animals, Blacktails, subocs, Emory's, Baird's, that are found almost every trip with the occasional super cool lepidus, milks and alterna that are like a bonus that just makes finding everything else better.
Finally I think alterna are like winning at slots. It is rare enough to find one at all that any are cool but if you do find one you have the chance to find anything from an "ugly" dark Langtry to a phenominal light phase or speckled one. No matter how many you have found there is almost certainly a better or crazier looking one yet to be found.

I'm buying plane tickets AGAIN Renting a car AGAIN Staying for a week AGAIN Stay at Wild horse AGAIN Hunting the Xmas AGAIN Why just seems like the thing to do AGAIN will be the 30th year

For me, it's not the alterna. Having caught two my first night out in May '02 has kinda killed the thrill for me. It's not the landscape, though I do enjoy it immensely. It's not the people as I rarely see anyone besides my brothers. No, for me it's the search for the elusive maroon Blazer that I always hear about. Seems it's steered by a wild-eyed northerner, some crazy man borne of legend. Apparently it's able to transverse the Pecos and, though heavily wounded, never killed. Rumors had the magical chariot in San Antonio, but this proved to be false. Legend has it that the apparition of a driver is fueled by some magical elixir, one which keeps him going for all hours, yet renders his mind useless. For years it was thought that his alterna lifestyle rendered him impotent, but recent history shows this may not be true (though Caleb has yet to fully claim this wild man as 'father'...Weston is mute on the subject, lending further to the legend). Hopefully this year I'll be able to attain my goal and make the all elusive sighting. That's why I keep going.

HEY!!! I have heard about that legend!!! That's amazing! It's almost like I have lived it. That's too wild!. I had a dream the other night that this vehicle had passed inspection and also was registered again. I dreampt that it was back on the road. I also had a dream that it was going to be flying down highway 90 sometime in July. GOD pray for us all!

Wayne

Maroon Blazer????........I remember the first time I espyed this legendary vehicle. It was Memorial Day weekend of 2000, and it seemed to be more of a faded red color as it sat in the Del Rio Motel 6 parking lot. The legendary owner had just located a 277 alterna that had escaped the confines of its bag. Good thing, as the temps were well on their way to 100 that day. All's well that ends well.............heheheheh!