Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If TP&W wants us off the public roads and right of ways why don't they allow a sustainable harvest of non-protected non-game species from Wildlife Management Areas?

I'll tell you why. Because that makes too much sense. They would be able to manage the resource with personnel already in place for the most part, and a minimum of additional funds.

Instead they will request additional funds and personnel for enforcement to patrol the roads and right of ways.

Here's an exert from the TP&W Web site regarding Black Gap Wildlife Management Area:

Texas Parks & Wildlife's Wildlife Division adopted the following goals in 1989 for preparing management plans for WMA's.

* To develop and manage wildlife habitats and populations of indigenous wildlife species.
* To provide a site where research of wildlife populations and habitat can be conducted under controlled conditions.
* To provide areas to demonstrate habitat development and wildlife management practices to landowners and other interested groups.
* To provide natural environments for use by educational groups, naturalists, and other professional biological investigators.
* To protect populations of threatened & endangered species, related habitats, unique natural sites, and relic & vegetation communities.
* To provide public hunting and appreciative use of wildlife in a manner compatible with the resource.
* To provide suitable habitat for the re-introduction of desert bighorn sheep.

are they sure about that?

Come on Joe........follow the money! Well-heeled hunters pay BIG BUCKS to shoot these critters. Too bad your wildlife folks don't see there would be money to be made by selling permits to non-game hunters. I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable fee to wander around Black Gap at night with my light. A few years ago, I spotted a small Blacktail coiled on a rock down in a canyon........well off the right of way. Plenty of herping spots are available for herpers that would be allowed to hunt in the WMA.

three Trans Pecos WMA's alone... that's a lot of Land. All we should need is the Annual Public Lands Permit plus our hunting license.

I would not want to give up my right to hunt on a public road to be able to hunt within WMAs. If I had to choose between the two I would much rather have the roads because they transect through a greater variety of habitats. We should be able to hunt both.

oh I agree 100%, my point being they don't want either and we want both. I didn't mean to suggest I was willing to trade one for the other.

........why hasn't anyone with a few bucks sued for access to herp these WMA's? not trying to be a jerk, but if they are supposed to be managed for, among other things, sustainable hunting - and we're required to have a hunting license - it would just seem that legally they can't keep us ALL out.......