Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Who needs one? I have one but will be in Del Rio at the end of the month with my dad and two brothers. My dad and older bro are both teachers an therefor exempt. My little bro is 20 and not exempt. Will he need one, or coule we claim that he is not actually collecting?
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www.southtexasherps.com

Exempt? Thats a new one. Is this true? Anyone?
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Steve W.

I haven't heard anything about teachers being exempt. As for your brother, if he is not driving, not spotlighting, is just a passenger then he won't need one.

Teachers exempt? Since when?

You don't need a non-game permit, you just need a hunting license. And they could buy a short term license to satisfy the criteria.

If they are going to get out of the car and handle, pick up, or otherwise interact with any herps you find, they should have a license.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

from http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/faq/huntwild/nongame_permits.phtml
the FAQ section pertaining to non-game permits.

"Who is exempt from needing the new non-game permits?

Persons aged 16 and younger and grade school teachers provided they are not engaged in commercial activities and establishments selling non-game for immediate consumption in individual portions, not refrigerated or frozen."

My dad teaches 2-6th grade and my older bro teaches 8th grade. Being teachers they are exempt, as long as they are not collecting for commercial gains. (my understanding of the law)
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www.southtexasherps.com

this is cool.....ha, immediate consumption....not frozen....now that's funny

As several others have pointed out, you don't need a non-game permit to collect herps. You need a hunting license.
You only need a non-game permit if you have more than 25 animals or you are collecting for commercial purposes.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

if you're lookin' and helpin' to find then ....you're huntin' that's what i was told by cheesedick out of sanderson.....then i said if we're fishin' and have just one pole...does he need a permit....NO....what if he sees a fish in the h2o, then tells me ...i drop the line and catch the fish....no answer....if i drive a bud to a deer sit and spot a deer....and he shoots it do i need a permit?......cheese's answer....NO.....but if i'm in the vehicle lookin' out while others in that vehicle are LOOKIN' for vertebrates(invertebrates are exempt).....then you need a permit.....hmmmm....when you see the lights....toss a blindfold on the kid.....and find out what happens.....

i will make sure he has a blindfold with him at all times, actually he may be using a pillowcase instead of a blindfold. as long as they dont figure out why he has a pillowcase on him. i am sure most guys out there arent smart enough for that.
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www.southtexasherps.com

they might think he's in the KLAN!!!!!

Don't confuse the permits with the hunting license.
There is a non-resident hunting license. I belive there is a small game version which is less $$ than the game version.

The permits are more for residents of Texas who keep large numbers or who commercially deal in animals. Out-of-staters wouldn't need the permits, just a hunting license

I am reading this directly off of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunting License fees for 2005-2006 license Year sheet.

Item 101= Resident hunting license $23.00, Item 102= Special resident Hunting (Res. and Non-Res. Under 17; Res 65 and older) $6.00, Item 157= Non-Resident Five-day Special Hunting $45.00 Item 107= Non Resident Special Hunting $125.00
Matt

Item 548= Resident Non-game Permit $18.00 Item 550= Non-Resident Non-Game Permit $60.00

of several game wardens of past was that ANY body in vehicle able to come out of vehicle and age wise was to have the non-resident permit that we had to have. This was of the " pursuing " wildlife law of past. Am I right here ?
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

I think that's what Ray Spears told me, and he seems like a pretty sraight-up guy.
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Regards, Bill McGighan

My experience has been that if the officer can obviously determine whether or not an occupant of the vehicle is pursuing or actively engaged in the searching or collecting of reptiles, he will hold them responsible for having a license.

One of my favorite police saying is "You may beat the rap, but you will not beat the ride" holds true here. Basically all the officer has to do is say he observed "whoever" looking for reptiles and he can cite you, then you either pay it or take it to the judge. In most cases the judge will believe the officer unless you have some pretty compelling evidence to the contrary such as Blindness or other handicap. Do not get me wrong I am not making fun of the handicapped, I am mearly making a strong point about the type of evidence you may have to produce to argue the point.

I guess the old addage "better safe than sorry" holds true here. Why take a chance of ruining a whole trip trying to save a few bucks. The money is supposed to go toward the "hunting and fishing" sportsman anyway. As easy as it is to get a license at any Wal Mart, I say stop the debate and quit your bellyaching and just buy the license.

ECT

or just like seeing the word " bellyaching in your post a lot ! LOL ! I do seem to know of a Eric T by some way though through the years.
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

Maybe using the word "bellyaching" is a bit harsh. I will try to be more careful. I will work on it if you try to work on your use of the english language also. Stuff like "by some way through the years" does not makes sense to me either.

As far as being a newbie, maybe you are right about that also. Maybe some of your friends can fill you in on me. I am relatively unknown to this field. lol

ECT

Eric is very well known in alternaland. The man is a legend in those parts. He has also seen the infamous Bob Assetto running down the road first hand. I will not say anymore. LOL

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Steve W.