Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Through all of these posts about the legislation in process, I have not been able to determine when this will come before the state senate and house for potential passage. Does anyone know when this will take place? Presumably, those who have an axe to grind may be pushing for this to pass in time to lock us all out before the "season" begins. My son and I are waiting with bated breath, as we have already made our airline ticket purchase, but will for obvious reasons wait to obtain our non-game hunting licenses until the coast is clear for our time-honored tradition of herping in West Texas. In our hunting out there we have by our estimates pumped 15K into the West Texas economy. Some have spent more, some less. But in the aggregate we GBK aficionados do represent a sizable chunk 'o change to the local merchants where we spend time on our herping expeditions. Are we safe to assume that because the process is only underway, that we will be free to hunt this season? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

MS

When the vote takes place, which is not set,if it receives 2/3rds of the vote, it will go into affect immediately, if it recieves less than 2/3rds but still passes, it will go into effect in Sept.
We still have time.
Later
Rick

The more people we can find to oppose this the better. So far they have had deaf ears.

We need to find out when the public can come down and be heard.

Lance

It seems to me that the best chance we have at this juncture is to concentrate on economic impacts-the bill is already passed by committtee and the full house. The senators are our last chance.

We need constituents of the affected West Texas areas-particularly business people and landowners-to make direct contact (preferably phone) with their own senators. No politician wants to be seen suporting ANY measure that will negatively impact his or her constituency economically! A small change sponsored by a sympathetic senator is all that's needed. Then of course we'd have to keep up the pressure to be sure the change survived the reconciliation process between the (now differing) versions passed by each house.

Also, has anyone received any feedback from the Sweetwater Jaycees, or the Freer Roundup folks? It's hard to believe that they would ignore those guys!

Brad Chambers

I've contacted some of the news stations here in Houston...not that they'll really care, but I did make the parallel between this and the proposed sale of parts of BBSP a while back. Maybe the paranoia about our legislature will get someone to look into this. It probably wouldn't hurt too much if other local stations around the state were notified as well.

This linked PDF has all the office numbers for the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

We have sent emails, lets make some calls.

Also take the time find the info on your local senator and contact them as well. If you are out of state, then contact Carlos I. Uresti he is the rep for the Trans Pecos Region.

they are all listed at:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/senmem.htm
Committee link

Isn't it too late to put pressure on the House committee, since the bill has already passed ther House? It seems to me the Senate is really the only chance at this point....

Brad Chambers

Yes and no. It has already passed the house. However, it will come back to a house conference committee to iron out any differences between the house and senate versions of the bill. Does anyone know who would be on the conference committee?

The politicians seem to be turning a deaf ear to us. Perhaps they would listen to the hotel owners and chambers of commerce.

The local businesses stand to lose a furtune. Surely they like our money more than they hate us. Tourism really dies off out here in May and June. Herpers may be the only ones keeping many businesses in the black.

Perhaps everyone should contact the owner of their favorite WT hotels, restaraunts, and the chambers of commerce in the areas they hunt.

I just spoke to Roy and he is wanting to get this fixed soon.

The more you think this through, the more ludicrous it becomes. It seems that the wording of this Bill, combined with the very loose TPWD defenition of "hunting", will allow them to control almost anything! I mean-birders and other wildlife watchers stop along the highway all the time to "pursue" and photograph -or just observe - Texas wildlife. If we can be cited for stopping for reptiles, what's to prevent this much larger group from also being prohibited from pursuing THEIR favorite activity?

And if they aren't cited, (and herpers are) isn't Law Enforcement guilty of "selective prosecution"?

Brad Chambers