As stated by Joe below, "Commerical Take" is probably directed at those that are really taking enough animals that there might be an impact on the population across the state. There are two prime examples, 1) the 80,000 or so WDB rattlesnakes that were reported taken over a period as documented from "Dealer Permit" records, 2) 300,000 turtles taken for export.
We can all pretty much assume that most of those animals commercially collected were not caught while collecting ROW's across Texas. They were collected by going onto private land and using methods such as trapping turtles in waterways, and using gas to take WDBs out of den sites. If we are truely conversationists we should be concerned about those methods and reasons for take. I have said it before, if you ever sold a snake or bought one, you are or have been a part of this issue. I realize there are those of you out there that have only caught what you intend to keep and I will give you acalades for that. There are those that capture enough to trade up to get harder to get herps, that is ok also. There are those that have "dealer permits" and as long as they are following the rules established with that permit "they are legal".
This new law says or does ABSOLUTELY nothing about any of those scenarios except that the right to do it from a ROW has been stripped. It really makes not difference to those that wrote the law who it affects. It was done to STOP collecting from the ROW. If the TPWD were truely interested in stopping Commerical Take, all they would have to do is stop the permit process. CLEARLY THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY WANTED. There is no need to read between any lines. This was to stop road collecting.
Joe has made a heroic effort in fighting this cause. You all must stop this bickering with each other and realize the issue with "commercial collecting" is probably nothing more that "saving face" with the politicians. IMO they are grasping at anything they can to keep their heads above water. This issue was NEVER an issue until they (politicians) started seeing how much trouble they have made for themselves politically. Some of you seem to have no problem providing a "sacraficial lamb" to give the politicians an out. I am not one of those. I repeat myself, I know, the issue is their attempt to stop road collecting.
IMO there are only a limited number of "Commercial Collectors" that should be really worried about this issue. They are the ones that truely are exploiting our resources, and you will notice that you have not heard a G-- D--ned thing from them. That is because this law does not affect them.
I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. UNITE IN THIS EFFORT. Find the common ground. It will be illegal to collect ROWs on Sept 1 if TPWD and HH have their way. The commercials will still have the places to commercially collect. Worry about them on another forum.
By the way, there is only one person that has actually met with Todd K - Joe. Thanks for that Joe. For those that are active in this fight - thanks. Keep focused and I recommend we utilize EVERY avenue that opens up to us. Just like looking for any herp, it pays huge dividends to know your quarry. Be prepared for that moment that you may actually get to achieve what you seek.
ECT
