Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, who is looking for a herping adventure on some lease land in west Texas? I expect to receive a lease commitment on a 640 acre section tomorrow. Once I get it, I will be recruiting volunteers to explore it with me. I need help on an informal survey of herps and other natural and cultural resources on 640 acres in prime herp habitat.

I plan a trip tomorrow night (if I get the commitment) and another over the week-end. Participants will need their own equipment (including at least one back-up flashlight), lots of water, food, and camping gear (if they chose to sleep there). Other recommended gear includes sat phones (no cell coverage), personal radios and GPS. The land is about 10 miles drive down questionable dirt/rock roads from Terlingua. High clearance vehicle are required. I can take four passengers in my truck.

Target species include all of your favorite Trans-Pecos herps. The habitat is ideal for Alterna and Leps and borderline for Pictigaster (perhaps ideal for pictigaster if some semi-permanent water hole (“tinajas”) are found). I have also been told of two Native American archeological sites on the property. I haven’t seen them yet, but I’m told there are many artifacts including matates, pictographs and petroglyphs (NO removal or disturbance of artifacts will be tolerated).

This invitation is open to ALL non-commercial collectors. You are welcome to keep what you catch. All I want is photos and data on species observed. All participants must sign a liability waiver and herp in pairs. I’ve hiked this country alone at night and DO NOT recommend it. This is dangerous country! I have a sat phone and four personal radios to help us keep in touch. Bring your own sat phones and radios if you have them.

My plan is to arrive a couple of hours before sunset so everyone can get the lay of the land. I will then herp for an hour after sunset then catch some Z’s until the moon set (around 2pm?). I’ll then resume herping/hiking till dawn (or till fatigue sets in). In the morning be hiking out to the archeological sites for a brief look around and some photos. Others can follow there own schedule as long as they stay paired up, carry radios, and respect the land. NO habitat destruction will be tolerated.

Anyone interested should email me through this site or call me at 432-371-2861.

Eby, wish i was there i would go in a heart beat. I will be out there in August, will you still have access ? If so i would like to Take a Texas Field Trip. Thanks Clark

I am securing an annual lease from the Texas GLO. So, yes I will still have access.

Most state owned land in this area is "land locked" and only available to owners of adjoining property. I currently own a tract that adjoins this one.

I'll be looking for more sections like this one. I'll keep all I can and sell the rest (actually just sell the adjoining tracts and throw in the lease as a bonus).

Perhaps we should form a conservation group and secure conservation leases on all the available land we can find/afford.

Why oh why couldn't you have extended this (very generous) invitation LAST weekend, when I was out there lol?

Anyway, I too have thought of forming a group of herpers to gain access to large tracts by leaee and/or purchase. The deer hunters do it, why not us?

Brad Chambers

I will be in Terlingua this weekend, sometime Friday afternoon. Not interested in collecting, but just seeing. My contact is 386.6544. I will contact you as well. Buenos...

Robert Hibbitts

Hey guys, i dont know about you all, but i would be more than happy to help set up/take part in some sort of fund to help aquire land for herping use, my good friend is purchaseing some land 3 miles outside of sanderson (off the highway, west side, right next to the moutains and large draw..) its a large trackt of land and hes HERP FRIENDLY i will be in charge of manageing the land for herper use!

BTW i would also like there to be a organisation set up so that we can perhaps pay a monthly membership the funds of which go into a account used to purchase lease rights to land that is deemed prime herp habitat, the members that pay there monthly dues are allowed to vote on land that has been submitted for possible purchase/lease. The gates would be locked and those that carry a card belonging to the membership/there family and they could use the combonation supplied on the card to gain access to the land.

Just an idea,

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

I'd do it in a heartbeat if I didn't have to work this weekend...Thanks for the invite though!
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Snakes to the Max

1.2 Variable Kingsnakes
1.1 Grayband x Ruthveni
0.1 Western Massasauga (WC)
1.1 Jungle Carpet Pythons
1.0 Jaguar Coastal Carpet Python
1.1 Pastel Red-tail Boas
1.0 Lavender Motley Cornsnake
3.1 Yearling Variable Kingsnakes
0.0.2 Yearling Western Massasaugas
1.1 Black Milksnakes
3.6 Honduran Milksnakes
1.3 Cornsnakes
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes
0.0.1 Baird's Ratsnake

Let me know when you head this way. I've got the lease commitmenet and will have clear access.

I'd like to donate this to a herp conservation group. In the meantime, I will leave it open for any herp hobbyist that want to help determine the land's potential. Mostly, this will be by guided trips, but some exceptions can be made if I'm not available.