Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There are many of us who collect nothing but memories and photographs. During 18 years of almost annual west Texas trips, all I collected was a single hatchling desert king snake – and that was by mistake. We had intended to hold the snake temporarily for photographs, and later release it at its location of capture. The snake was briefly forgotten in the rush to depart Lajitas, and turned up again just before we reached the El Paso Airport. There was little choice at the time but to take home an impromptu pet. I also gave (not sold) three snakes to another road hunter a few years ago. For all practical purposes, this is really the same as collecting them myself, so I guess I’m “on the hook” for a total of four snakes over 18 years. For the past ten years, I have made the west Texas trip with the same core group of one to three other herpers. None of them has ever removed even a single snake from west Texas for any reason. We still religiously buy our hunting licenses, and have contributed many thousands of dollars to the local economy just for the privilege of being there. I don’t take issue with those who keep an occasional snake on a sustainable basis, but I choose to limit my own collecting to photographs.

I also make the annual trip to West Texas to see old friends, and enjoy the landscape and do some herping. I have been going west for 15 years now, have kept 10 - 15 reptiles in this 15 year period, only 1 has been alterna in 05, my first alterna find. I also enjoy the Inverts out there espically the Scorpions. some interesting species down south, so I hope TPW will reconsider the ban on these at least. I am not pointing a finger at anybody, but i know of collectors that keep every reptile that they find no matter what it is, i have seen this first hand, so yes there is concern for the resource. This being said i am for the annual bag limit suggestion, if it means we can come to a agreement with TPW to let us back on the road ways or right of ways, and get back to enjoying the hobby we all so love. My 2 cents worth. Clark