Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Despite a long standing tradition that defined animal as a terrestrial vertebrate for purposes of hunting a bird or animal in Texas, it appears that TWPD is willing to sacrifice any remaining political capital it might have in an unenforceable attempt (IMO) to close the loophole that exists for invertebrates under HB12!

Three to four weeks ago, a friend of mine who was coming with me to Texas to collect beetles and other insects, was given assurances by Robert McDonald, Regulations Coordinator-TPWD, that Section 44, HB12, DID NOT APPLY TO INSECTS AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES. This morning, MR. McDonald changed his tune.
Apparently, he changed his tune because wardens were suddenly encountering quite a few bug collectors out in the field and were reporting having problems enforcing the new law-lol.

What a disgraceful attempt to bend the law to fit enforcement. I think the proverbial @#@# is about to hit the fan!!!!

R

"You see officer, the particular igneous formations that I am searching for, show up best at night when hit with a flashlight or the beam of headlights".

"it isn't against the law to look for rocks, is it officer?"

THAT is funny.

.

I heard that the chupacabra hides plastic snakes on the cuts and on the road out there..

The bottom line is that it's a free country, and no one can prevent citizens from pulling off the road and observing/photographing wildlife of WHATEVER kind. The Trans-Pecos are a destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts of every stripe-is LE planning on issuing citations to every birdwatcher and wildflower photographer? I don't think so. If I get a ticket because I'm observing snakes at midnight, then birders MUST be issued citations for "pursuing" flycatchers and falcons at noon! Anything else would be selective enforcement.

Brad Chambers

McDonald and TPWD must know that this will do nothing to dissuade snake hunters except shift the rationale for being on the road or right-of-way to something else – observation of wildlife, plants, etc., etc. What this may help with now is that someone isn’t going to be observing wildlife with any conventional “capture” containers – lol , like may been the case before when hunting invertebrates. It hurts the bug people big time though.

R

Yep, I can see it now. Getting a ticket because he/she was wearing socks and socks could be considered snake containers.LOL........

L8r Shannon

I was thinking about walking cuts with a Magician's hat, except instead of the bunny...

R

You can still have all the equipment and animals you want in the vehicle. You were just coming home from field collecting.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

This adds more people to petition, TPW must know that - doesn't seem like they care about the heat, what does that say to us?

Will Wal-Mart be posting notices beside their bug spray and fly swatter that a hunting license is now required before using these items?

I'm really not surprised.

TPWD is saying the law isn't enforceable because people lie and say they are invert hunting when they are really hunting snakes. So they can't enforce the law because people are lying and using a technical loophole to evade being held accountable for their actions. They want that loophole closed so that they can enforce the existing regulations.

Where would they get such a preposterous idea that snake hunters would lie about what they are doing?

We reap what we sow.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

yep.
Todd Hughes
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Todd Hughes

Ya that's the reason but there are many tactics they can use to determine if somone is lying so it isn't really anything more than laziness. I'm sure you've heard of night vision goggles.
And there are really people strictly into bugs, they even have thier own expos and I have seen them out there too. How do you think they feel? Really if TPWD goes forth with that they are going just to get a whole 'nother group of teed-off people.

yes, and you don't want to piss off the bug people believe me.LOL..
L8r