Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I sent the following response to a legislative aide that suggested we work with land owners to obtain hunting leases for herping.

Regarding a coalition with land owners to obtain hunting leases for reptiles: That has been tried with limited success in the past. New efforts are being made as we speak. Ironically, as a land broker in prime snake hunter country, this ban would benefit my business. The biggest downside to herping wild lands are the safety issues. Walking the roads and ROWs is MUCH safer than walking wild lands.

Sadly, I’m quite certain that this ban (if it goes into effect) will lead to serious injury or death to some in our hobby.

Consider also hunting a narrow transect that passes through habitat is much more environmentally conservative because it leaves vast tracts of land as a buffer zone. Why would any conservationist want to promote hunting vast virtually undisturbed areas over hunting a narrow transect? As long as we do it with the safety of the public in mind it is the best way for both the people and animals.

What about the fact that it would be MUCH easier to police from road sides than far off on private land. Hunting private land just opens up so many more issues. A lot of these locals probably couldn't care less if you have your hunting license for hunting snakes on their land so long as you pay for your time.

If we all began purchasing a hunting lease we would seriously impact the ecosystems of the areas we hunt in. Each time you turn over a rock or open up a hollow log you destroy or disturb a microhabitat. The fact they offer leasing land as a substitute suggests they could care less about conservation and they have an unspoken agenda.

Brad Ratliff

What is a "hollow log"?

We have hollow yucca trunks. Do they count?

Yes I said that. Furthermore because herping can be done more safely from the road and with much less impact to habitat forcing that activity off of the road in order to benifit real estate salesmen and lease owners is is unjust. Plain and simple if herping can be done safely on the road it there is no reason to not allow it. Leave the cross country nightime trekking to the experts.
In the long run the real estate market will benifit more by allowing roadhunting. I didn't buy my land in the Davis Mtns. simply to hunt solely on my own property. I bought it to have a place where I could hunt undisturbed land when I chose to and to use as a base camp for other excursions in the area. That's the same as a person who buys a house near the coast so they can go to the public beach. These real estate salesmen and lease owners need to try spending a few bucks on maketing and advertizing if they want to reach us, not try to force us to buy with an unfair law.