Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In keeping with their mission statement:

1) How does TPW provide hunting opportunties for game animals?

2) Where does TPW provide hunting opportunties for game animals?

3) Are any of the areas provided by TPW for game animals closed to hunting non-game species such as reptiles and amphibians?

See where I'm going with this?

R

I believe TPWD does in fact provide opportunities for the hunt of game animals. They have draws for hunting on park land and the like. I believe...I'm not a deer hunter.

1) How does TPW provide hunting opportunties for game animals?

TPWD offers hunts by drawing on limited entry management areas and other drawings on for select private lands hunts. It also holds auctions for "high end" private land hunts. Furthermore, it also has a "public hunting lands" program where hunting and camping is allowed on various units with the purchase of an over the counter "public hunting lands" permit ($45)

2) Where does TPW provide hunting opportunties for game animals?

see above

3) Are any of the areas provided by TPW for game animals closed to hunting non-game species such as reptiles and amphibians?

Some of the areas mentioned above are closed to hunting reptiles and amphibians, while others are open. This is left to the discretion of the local unit manager. For example, the ETHS will be granted access to Gus Engling WMA in East Texas to collect Herps, and most of the Public Hunt lands in East Texas are similarly open to herp collecting. On the other hand, Black Gap WMA is closed to herp collecting because (in their words) "its too hard to monitor" given they have no permanent staff on the property.

Troy

Thanks, Troy, for that clarification...I knew you'd come through.

Troy,

Would it be fair to say that more public land is made available for hunting game animals than hunting non-game animals like reptiles and amphibians? Can you put it in percentage terms? And, is it also fair to say that this public land is more fairly and geographically dispersed for game animals than it is for reptiles and amphibians? You mentioned that the east Texas WMA is open for east Texans and east Texas species, but that Black Gap WMA is closed for west Texans and west Texas species. I’m trying to acquire information that counters once and for all the inequity argument made by game hunters and others who say that if they can’t hunt game species on public roads and right-of-ways, why can reptiles and amphibians be taken there. The answer I’m looking for is that you can hunt game animals everywhere else like (?). Reptiles and amphibians cannot be taken on public lands, except for (?).

Also, this may sound like a stupid question, but do you need a wildlife permit to hunt wildlife on private land?

Thanks.

Would it be fair to say that more public land is made available for hunting game animals than hunting non-game animals like reptiles and amphibians?

Yes

Can you put it in percentage terms?

No, I don't know how many of the management areas allow herp collection. You would have to contact the manager of each and every property to know.

And, is it also fair to say that this public land is more fairly and geographically dispersed for game animals than it is for reptiles and amphibians?

Not really. There are WMAs scattered all across the state, and herps of interest (to me at least) all across the state. I think that it would be fair to say that there isn't enough public hunting land in the Trans-Pecos, period. I'd love to be able to rifle hunt Mule Deer out there on public hunting lands . . .

You mentioned that the east Texas WMA is open for east Texans and east Texas species, but that Black Gap WMA is closed for west Texans and west Texas species. I’m trying to acquire information that counters once and for all the inequity argument made by game hunters and others who say that if they can’t hunt game species on public roads and right-of-ways, why can reptiles and amphibians be taken there. The answer I’m looking for is that you can hunt game animals everywhere else like (?). Reptiles and amphibians cannot be taken on public lands, except for (?).

Again, I don't have that information. There are certainly lots more private lands that allow deer hunting access (for a fee of anywhere from $1000-6000 per hunter per season - or even a weekend, on some properties). We also have quite a few public hunting lands, mostly in East Texas, that allow deer hunting opportunities on a walk-in basis. Many of these places are either open to herping or don't care. Many of the General WMAs are closed to general access, but can be accessed by appointment. I'm positive that quite a few of them would allow herping. However, as mentioned, there are some that are closed to herping as well (Black Gap, Elephant Mt, Chapparall, come to mind). However, its just not a hard and fast rule - each manager makes his own decisions when it comes to which species may be harvested - game or nongame.

Troy

Also, this may sound like a stupid question, but do you need a wildlife permit to hunt wildlife on private land?

Also, this may sound like a stupid question, but do you need a wildlife permit to hunt wildlife on private land?

You have to possess a valid hunting license to hunt anywhere in the state, at least legally.

Troy

I need your email addy to send you this word doc I've been working on, and I don't have the word doc at home.

Robert

it is alterna2627(AT)swtexas(DOT)net

Please wait until after about 6 pm. I'm sure it will take me that long to delete the 150 autoreply emails from the Texas House of Representatives.

Troy

I'll send it a little after 4 PM (Phoenix time).

R

Actually they all do not autoreply, and I have had two with people from the office reply. I guess you still have the 31 senators left now....

Yeah, I was working at the CHAP WMA north of Loredo in 2005. That year I had a hunting lisence, a non game collectors permit, and an annual hunt permit. While doing quail research I found a mexican hog nosed snake, I collected it and took it to the office to ask if I could keep it, even though they allow, quail, deer, dove, turkey, and hog hunting I was not allowed to keep a little ol hog nosed snake. Thats a freakin crock. If I had been alone when I found the snake, nobody would have know and it would be happily breeding my female right now.
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South Texas Herps