Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you recommend that all TX herpers NOT purchase hunting licenses in Sept.?
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V.P.
Austin Herp. Soc.

I would say that we all purchase a license..... We do support TP&W in its capacity to regulate natural resources. We do not support useless or missguided reglations and want to fix them.

We do want a better relationship between TP&W and herpers so that this kind of crap does not happen again. This still needs a good deal of work, but we can make it happen.

We do want a good relationship with members of the Texas Legislature so that we can have input on changing existing legislation and any new legislation. Right now this is where we seem to be making the best ground, unfortunatly we were blindsided along the way by one person.

Just because someone supports conservation efforts, etc. made by TPW is no reason to buy a license that is of no use. Non-hunters and non-fishermen don't buy licenses just so the state can better manage game resources. Save your money...this may help later when they start digging through receipts and see that a revenue stream may be lost.

Actually, that is a very good point.

Randal Berry

I would say it depends. If you plan on not hunting for snakes at all, don't buy one. If you plan on going onto a private ranch, buy one. The law in that regard hasn't changed; you still need one to hunt.
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

If you plan to take any wildlife then buy a license, if you plan to only observe or photo then you do not need a license. I would not recomend not buying as a means of defiance or protest.

Lance

Lance,
I didn't mean to imply not to buy a license, merely that he made a good point on falling revenues..
Randal

And I think it will end up hurting us in the long run if we end up with any citations as we try to fix this problem we have now.

I am not trying to lay anything on any one person

Lance

you opt to buy a license, I think it is a good idea for all of us to get out on the roads to "observe" and "photograph" herps as much as we possibly can. This will have a couple of beneficicial effects:

1. It will show those who were behind this law that it isn't working-herpers are going out there in undiminished numbers even though they cant legally collect. What's the point in fighting to keep it on the books if it does not have the desired effect?

2. When no citations result-just lots more "fruitless" LE stops-it will demonstrate the fact that the vast majority of herpers are law-abiding.

3. The end result will be MORE work for LE (having to enforce this law by pretty much stopping every herp observer they see to check for collecting, with DECREASED funding (fewer licenses sold, little or no money from citations).

I myself have been out a couple of times a week-have been stopped a few times. Had fun, and got lots of good data for NAFHA!

Brad Chambers

The way the law is written you would only be allowed to take in situ shots. Part of the definition of hunting is attempting to capture. Could positioning an animal for a photo be considered capturing even if only temporary? I have read game wardens are to use common sense. That would make it impossible to know what is legal and what is not. The law could vary from warden to warden.
Mark

But I think very few wardens would interpret the law so strictly. further, I sincerely doubt any such citation would hold up in court.

Brad Chambers

I agree with Jason on this point.
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Todd Hughes

and we do waqnt to legally hunt our quarry from private property until then, and want to be able to prove ourselves trustworthy as stewards doing our part, and that means legal hunting. My .02

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Todd Hughes

I suggest not bothering with Texas.

Come on up to New Mexico; it's better here.

Wasn't going to respond to this but since the joker that posted this wants to attack facts. Let's look at some facts about New Mexico. They protect alterna, lepidus lepidus and triaspis with no data and no need. Do you know how much data about alterna they could have acquired from the alterna hunters alone? It is mind blowing. The most ridiculous New Mexico law is that an import permit and health certificate are required to bring a Garter Snake across state lines. Now that is ridiculous.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

Maybe he means for the herpers who don't want to get harassed by taking pictures and not actually collecting. New Mexico is great. I've taken pics of New Mexico lepidus and New Mexico alterna. I've NEVER been stopped or questioned about it. Plus, I can go find other stuff like klauberi, pyros, narrowhead garters, endemic salamanders, and other stuff TX doesn't have.

Texas has endemic salamanders!
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

n.t

Just for the record Eric, I was kidding. Shoulda put a
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

haha, wrong again! Tigers in Brewster county!
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Todd Hughes