Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think it is very important to remember that TPWD is not a single person. I think if we could meet many of them on a personal basis and they could get to know what we are really about most of them would like us. Ultimately we want them to respect us as they do other hunters and fishermen. We want an open dialouge with them and we will never achieve that if we catagorize them and continually speak of them as "the bad guy".
I know there have been policies in the past that we found unreasonable or unfair but if you look at the last several years Texas has been one of the best herper friendly states their is IMHO. Let's work to keep it that way but let's not alienate ourselves in the attempt.

Exactly - it is my understanding that the idea for this bill originated with a Game Warden that had quite a few negative interactions with a few beligerant individuals in the herping community.

Personally, one of the saddest things about this bill is that I'm sure it will increase tensions between the herping community and TPWD. In fact, I believe that it already has increased tensions between the TPWD and the herping community to a level not seen since at least 1986.

Troy

So how do we go about putting a liaison in place to help smooth the waters? I have personally never even run into a GW, but have had numerous interactions with BP, only one of which (in Bracketville) was anything but pleasant. You may be able to fight the system (as in opposition exhibited by members of this forum) but you can't fight the Man...we need to work with whatever agencies we need to in order to continue our hobby.

I've been trying to be a "liaison" to TPWD - that's the job I've been appointed to by the Texas Herp Society. I used to have a really positive relationship with Wildlife Diversity, but am having to rebuild that with the new director.

Troy