Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am not 100% up on all current state herping regs in TX as I'm an out of stater, but as far as I can tell there are for the most part no bag limits (at least none I can locate searching the net). Is this correct?
If so, has anyone thought of attempting to work with TPWD to create reasonable limits as a way to eliminate the commercial collection issue? I understand everyone here would prefer the freedom to collect whatever they find without restriction, but it seems that limits could be set in a way that would not effect hobbyist keeping just a few animals for their personal collections while still creating an enforcible law TPWD LE could use to limit the small amounts of commercial harvest that are occurring.
I know this would increase TPWDs influence over herpers, but it seems this type of cooperation with TPWD may improve the herping communities relationship with them. Again, I understand not wanting your personal freedoms impreded and this in no way solves the present issue, but it seems to me a major source of the problem is the gap between TPWD LE and herpers. Just my 2 cents.

Also, as I stated at the beginning I am not 100% familiar with whether or not the state has herping bag limits, but if I am incorrect and they are already in place please disregard this post.

I believe the bag limit under a regular hunting license is 25 herps total in the aggregate but not to exceed 10 of any single species/subspecies.

And yes I would much prefer to work with TPWD on bag limits than to see HB 2414 passed.

Until Sept 1, there is no bag limit for most Texas herps. Currently no permit is required to sell most Texas herps. This will change with the implementation of changes to the commercial collecting regs. After Sept 1, only certain species will be allowable to collect for sale. All other non T&E species will have small bag limits (hopefully, group specific). For species which you can commercially collect, you will probably still be required to have a permit if you have 10 individuals of a single species or 25 individuals of all affected species in aggregate.

Needs commercial permit
sells affected species
possess 10 individuals of single affected species
possess 25 total individual animals from affected species list

does not need commercial permit
possess fewer than 10 individuals of a single species (affected or not)
possess fewer than 25 individuals from affected species list

hunting license requirement
Anyone in the field actually capturing or pursuing herps with the intent to capture. You do not need a TX hunting license to possess native herps in your home.

Troy

I know you probably get tired of hearing this, but is it a regular hunting license, a small game hunting license, or a non-game permit? My understanding was the non-game permit was for exceeding the 10/25 limit, but I had never heard of the small game license until this popped up on this forum. Believe me, WalMart has no clue either, and I'd be willing to bet few vendors of licenses do.

for TX residents, there's only the "general hunting license" and "commercial permits"

For out of state folks, there is, I believe, a small game license that lacks the big game tags.

Troy

Thanks for the replies. I have actually read before about the 10 of a species, 25 aggregate rule but it had completely slipped my mind. I would think species specific limits would be better (ex: X # of graybands, X # of milks, X # of Subocs, etc.). Obviously, the round up guys would not be happy if a lower limit were set of rattlers, but the limits seem to work well in AZ. Although, I will admit I don't completely agree with the fact that you can't even sell captive bred specimen of native species in AZ.