Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am speaking purely from the stance of a road-collecting hobbyist.

I am no expert on how your agency is run, so I ask this question;

Are you legally obligated to adopt this new bill?

I ask because I am having a hard time understanding how this bill benefits TPW, and want to know if you have to accept policy that seems to be so counter-productive to every one involved, including the animals.

1. Which “sanctuary” has more value to the animal populations, the few hundred miles (generous estimate) of "huntable" roads where the animals are now not even offered protection from vehicles by kind-hearted passers-by, or the thousands and thousands of acres (low estimate) of untouched private land that is now going to be opened up to collection? I view the roadways as "buffer zones" for the surrounding nature, from the roads themselves, and the people on those roads. They allow us to appreciate and feel as if we’re a part of the environment, without intruding further upon it. Think of the land itself, how much unintentional erosion damage will be done by even the most conscientious individuals?

How many times has the introduction of people to a habitat benefited that environment? The roads and the damage they cause (road-kill in even the most remote areas) are unavoidable by the wildlife that live in their vicinity. Why make regulations that negate the one positive that wildlife is afforded by these man-made intrusions? Interested and concerned individuals previously were able to offer a small amount of protection, in exchange for the right to study, photograph, and occasionally collect these animals.

Your decisions are supposed to give a voice to the nature you are charged with protecting/managing.

This new legislation does not serve that interest.

2. The risk to personal safety has been increased substantially by this decision. What better protection than my vehicle can you offer me against the predators that frequent the most popular snake collecting areas? Less than a month ago, two collectors I was with saw a mountain lion along the road in the Davis Mountains. If that animal was venturing so close to the road, what might have happened if those collectors were on an exposed rock-face? Do you like the idea of sending armed individuals into unfamiliar territory, where encounters with desperate illegals are bound to occur? Beside the unlikely scenario of a bear or lion attack, how many more injuries will occur as a result of trying to navigate boulders, ravines, cliffs and venomous snakes, all in the dark?

There will be an unfortunate incident, and it will be directly linked to the decision to ban road collecting.

3. As a visitor to West-Texas, the daylight hours gave me the time to explore the Big Bend Ranch and Davis Mountains State Parks. Now, by having to spend countless hours lobbying ranchers and scouting land, I will have little to no time to enjoy areas like Box Canyon, or other areas like Black Gap and Big Bend NP. Others will look for areas outside of Texas, and take their families and dollars there. New Mexico is not much further down the road, and I have already planned a long weekend for next month.

The ban on road collecting is a disservice to the wildlife, land, hobbyists and park service. Please realize this mistake and suspend or reverse this decision, before old traditions here become new traditions elsewhere.

Sincerely,

John Craft

Box Canyon should read Closed Canyon

This is one of the best posts concerning this topic that I have read to date (and I think that I have read all of them). Excellent points. I hope that someone with some pull at TP&W reads this.

Bryan Box

Thanks, other points include;

1. Private land owners will not take long in recognizing an opportunity. If this ban is held up, expect ranchers (not all) to maximize this new market by charging a premium to access areas. With limited suitable habitats, it is not hard to imagine the available prime territories going to the highest bidders. Who, in most cases, will be able to win these bids? The commercial hunters! In any case, for many, the days of "free" hunting (-fuel, hotels, licenses and permits)are over. Herping in Texas has the potential to become an elitist pursuit that alienates lower income and physically challenged individuals.

2. By taking collectors off roads, the ability of the parks and wildlife agents to monitor potential violations has been severely hindered. Everyone coming out of private areas cannot be stopped and questioned, but more non-hunters will be pulled over and questioned needlessly. The wardens will be wasting their time, and that of others. Why not leave the collectors on the roads, where their actions clearly identify them?

I must stress that no matter how many points establish the pros of lifting this ban, my main concern is for the animals. If nothing more is given to us than the ability to protect these animals (how sad is that - needing permission to save an animal's life?), I will consider that a victory.

John

I have talked with some people that have land here in west Tx. MOST do not want anyone on their land just because. Some have said the liability is just to great. Even if a person signs a waiver the law states they still have rights to sue for liability issues. I am no lawyer but the person I spoke with seemed to know what they were talking about. So if a rancher did agree to do leases to hunt reptiles the price would probably be as high as the deer leases run which run extremely high.
IN my opinion this just puts most of us in a class that could not aford it.
Ruth