Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got this e-mail a few minutes ago from an anonymous source.
Of course it is something I have been aware of for years, and it always amazes me when I see folks post on the forum that I'll be "here or there" driving "your make and model of car" during "insert dates here".

Here's the cut and paste of the e-mail I got. It should be no surprise to anyone.

quote:

About 2 or 3 years ago I was cruising the (XXX locality). and stopped at
the (insert landmark here) because a TP&W Officer was sitting there and I figured I would
preempt the trouble for the night. I was with some other middle aged,
old farts like myself and we were bristling with camera gear. We
explained the plan for the night and ended up BSing with the guy for
about 45 minutes. After he lightened up a bit and decided he wasn't
going to write us up that night he unveiled some interesting
information with a little careful questioning. I asked about how he
approached the logistical problem of where to be and when in the
Trans Pecos to specifically target snake hunters. He indicated that
he and other TP&W officers monitor the alterna message boards at
kingsnake.com, read the dialogs, determine where the heaviest
potential snake hunting traffic will be and arrange their patrol(s)
accordingly. He said they paid special attention during the dark of
the moon and during other favorable conditions - indicating that they
had learned a lot from the message boards.

Nothing illegal going on here, no matter how bad it stinks - since
it's a public forum and all that. However, based on the current,
underhanded legislative manipulations in Texas and the general move
in this country to chip away at civil liberties, especially from
folks who behave outside the "norm," I think the trouble may just be
beginning in this vein. It would behoove folks to curb their
excitement a bit and be careful of what information they are posting
in public forums. Sometimes apparently "harmless" info put in the
right hands can damage.

End quote.

They know where all the hot spots are anyway Joe. They are going to do what they are going to do. I get your drift though. We too will be monitoring LE activity.

>>They know where all the hot spots are anyway Joe. They are going to do what they are going to do. I get your drift though. We too will be monitoring LE activity.

LE is constantly in communication with each other one way or another. Ever notice how if you get pulled over in an area that other herpers are also driving LE takes off when they are done with you pretty quick. They are attempting to go down the line. When on the road it would be good to send out a text message to the others to notify them of the invasion.
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Steve W.

If they see us posting finds on the board after the ban, could they cite us?

it is a misdemeanor that did not occur in their presence. i dont see how that could ever be enforced. it would be like posting a message that you ran a stop sign or something.

About driving around and photographing snakes...

Let them read the boards. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if one of our "members" turns out to be LE.

oh well...

Steven

but would game wardens really be that interstde in us? i mean really, we grab snakes off the road. i mean who cares. i would think they would be more interested in catching poachers, illegal big game hunting, or even the smuggling of illegal animals. i would be really shocked if game wardens logged onto our site, spent time and energy on some covert operation, just to write the naughty snake collecter a ticket. i guess i could happen though...

you'd be surprised. Here's an example. I know not "everyone" is out to get me, but since I have become an "activist" over on the law forum, spreading the word about dirty deeds done dirt cheap, google and yahoo searches of the terms "joseph e forks, joseph forks, and joe forks" skyrocketed. Because I track every single hit and it's origin I know for a fact there is large red X on my back now. The good news for our friends is that I won't be hiding, and I'll be ready.

bulletproof Joe, yeah, that's what they call him, his middle name is Timex, takes a lickin' an' keeps on tickin'! I am with you on this one Joe, hey L.E., Todd M. Hughes, like Tom Petty says, well I won't back down....an' I'll stand my ground!
Todd Hughes

DAMN STRAIGHT!!!!

It is that type of attitude that has cost all of us to loose our rights, i personally cant believe you would stand up to the government it was this type of negative attitude that brought the government down on us. Thanks for nothing your radical attitude has deminished our hobby to almost nothing, I think we should all just try to get along with LE and do as they say it might be easier on us.

Diminished the hobby? If you haven’t noticed keeping herps, and looking for herps is a growing hobby. If you also haven’t noticed many people around this nation are getting fed up with archaic laws, and politics. herping and all it ensues isn’t in danger it is far from it, the reason for this? Laws make it more 'edgy' more 'cool' and just take the hobby underground.

thank you,
Eric
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herp'.

Relax Eric! This is a known trouble maker ont he forum! It's ok. I'll deal with him! Right Tanks???? ~~~~~~~~~~

Wayne

Didnt mean to jump the gun. BTW 'Herpo' John, has been running arround with Tom the last couple days in the big bend/sanderson region, not much luck. couple common things, and some tarantulas (sp?) anyways he doenst know where to go tonight...when he calls here in a few minutes im suposed to give him my opinion of the best chances for tonight, any sugestions?
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herp'.

he's being sarcastic because I chastized him for fighting with Fernando on the side of the road, which IMO was not the time or the place.

I guess he's an out of stater huh Joe??? HAHAHAHAHA!!

I hope he doesn't see my campaign poster on the law forum!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Sick em you alterna forum closet watcher!!! Get your ass out in the field and show yourself!!! See you in SA tomorrow! (?)

You might be surprised by some of the things the authorities take an interest in and who they decide to target. I just found out that there is a warrant for my arrest because I let my grass get too tall while I was out of town. Go figure. I didn't think they arrested people for that. We should all watch our backs.

Where the hell do you live? RUSSIA???? Tell them to kiss your as*!! The revolution is near my friends. Just wait until after the election. It gets "better"!

Wayne H.

I here that the "O2 Flats" on Hwy 118 from south of Elephant Mountain to just north of Terlingua Ranch is the new hot spot! We should all give the other locales a rest and focus our efforts there.

I'll be in a purple VW van with four Q-beam spotlights mounted to the roof, four more on the front bumper, two on each side and two more on the rear bumper. I like to spotlight the road and cuts while going 90mph and those twelve Q-beams let me see all the way to the next county. Plus if I can't stop in time, the ones on the rear bumper work just great. Besides, with all those lights, I don't have to worry about other vehicles. Most of them get blinded and run off the road.

Everyone meet me there! And don't forget your Q-beams!

Not me, I'm going to the Super Secret Splendida road out by OSO or Osla or hell it's so secret I forgot where it was. I'm going to pull a warden and drive w/o lights at all - just use my night vision goggles at a modest 65 mph. I have a giant "dustpan" that skims the road and shoots animals into the cab. It's hell when the porcupines are out.

shoot, I just came back from Area 51 an' borrowed a hovercraft from the aliens! I'm gonna be on all the tall cuts, skimmin' about 35 feet up, they told me not to push the red button,some kinda tractor beam or some such. I have also made many cardboard likenesses of myself to situate in all the hot spots with a Q beam in my hand! That'll learn 'em!
Todd Hughes

i just got a new permit that allows me to bag up to 4 LE agents a night....screw the snakes i'm collecting LE agents...they're easier to find.......

hey Joe,

Its The Super Secret Splendida Road, and its 'by Orla' i figured out that they would be useing the forums to track our movements a long time ago, been in the army to long made me nerotic so i dont post road names or the likes, if you call me or meet up with me personally i will tell you the location but i wont post it at the moment its virgin territory perfect, un spoiled, (i was out all night, saw 1 freaking car got in @ 430am) saw a dozen red spot toads two or three dozen couches, and great plains, and texas toads. 5 or so horned toads, couple texas long nose, night snakes, atrox, 2 DOR bulls, just lots of inverts also, picked up a bunch of weird tarantulas (sp?) for Tom. Screw those bastards try and catch me, try and make my life hard, im a mean nasty OIF vet with a extream dislike for bull[bleep] politics and stupid rules/laws bring it assholes, bring it.

anyone want some good spots far away from anyone, get with me let them try and find us. Texas= big state, lots of roads!
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herp'.

... why you guys have all the luck. I usually dress in full Swedish camo, drive at 1.714 MPH and try to sneak up on them barefooted. PS Don't forget to shine the top of the big Observatory 'scope - I hear they congregate on the dome at precisely 0047 during the first full moon.

--Name withheld by request--

it DOES stink - but not exactly a surprise is it?

Operation Rockcut II............

I like that, ORC-II let the games begin...

Really I am not all that aggressive of a person, I am somewhat reasonable, herping when the conditions are right and things are moving it’s a magical experience, and no one is going to take that away from me. I am sure there are others out there that feel the same way.
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herp'.