Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I find it interesting that part of the reason Texas Parks and Wildlife used to stop road hunting for reptiles is they though we were smuggling drugs.
I’ve been hunting in the Big Bend area since the mid 70’s and I haven’t heard of a single snake hunter being caught smuggling. I know of a lot of law enforcement people being caught for smuggling including some Texas Parks and Wildlife wardens but no snake hunters. It kind of makes you question where all this is coming from.
I used to stay in Big Bend for weeks at a time and got to know a few of the local people fairly well. A couple of them told me that the reason some of the locals wanted us out of there was that we interfered with their smuggling activities. It is hard to move truck loads of “wets” as they called them and drugs, when all these kids are driving up and down the road all night.
Most of the ranch land down there is so poor that they can only put 10 to 15 head of cattle per section so one of the ways the ranchers paid their taxes was to lease out trespass rights to the smugglers. The next thing they knew, there are 20 to 30 “young guys” for the most part driving up and down the roads all night and shining lights all over the place. Of course we only did it on the nights the moon wasn’t up, just when the smugglers wanted to travel.
That’s not counting making the far right paramilitary groups, who used to hold their exercises on one of the bigger ranches down there, very nervous.
I could go on forever about the rich people who are now building their second homes down there and then not wanting the riff raff to interfere with their “gentlemen rancher” experience.
I personally believe the best way to deal with this, is to pick a product that is only made in Texas and is sold all over the country and start a boycott.
I’ve learned over the years the only thing that counts to the people in power is MONEY. They could care less if you are right or wrong just show them the money.
I also believe this will hurt the small, local people who make their living off the tourist who stay down there.
When I go to Big Bend I spend $1500 or more a week in the local economy and there are usually 20 or 30 people down there doing the same thing. DO THE MATH.

I find it interesting that part of the reason Texas Parks and Wildlife used to stop road hunting for reptiles is they though we were smuggling drugs.
Where did you here that? I've heard lots off explanations, but not this one. They DO think we are smuggling animals, but offer no data to that effect and their solution is to shut us all down instead of focusing on the alleged animal smugglers.

I personally believe the best way to deal with this, is to pick a product that is only made in Texas and is sold all over the country and start a boycott.
Good idea in theory. In practice, our numbers are too small to impact anything other than local tourism.

You under estimate our numbers.

some guy had a few hundred pounds of pot in his car/truck, covered up by a whole boat-load of Reptiles. The Border Patrol that made the bust personally related the story to me that went "something" like this:

He was called to the scene when a "herper" (actually smuggler) was discovered near the border region with "hundreds" of reptiles in his car. Among the Reptiles were Gila Monsters (plural - don't know how many). As they were taking inventory and ID'ing the animals they smelled the pot, which was hidden somewhere inside and underneath all the herps.

It's probably not very common, but who knows for sure.

Covering one illegal activity (smuggling drugs) with another (smuggling Gilas) is not particularly bright.

If this guy was actually herper while hauling illegal items, he was way beyond stupid.

Should read "actually herping", not "actually herper".

I gues me is dumm two

>>Covering one illegal activity (smuggling drugs) with another (smuggling Gilas) is not particularly bright.
>>
>>If this guy was actually herper while hauling illegal items, he was way beyond stupid.

Yes, at that point the guy is no longer a herper, just a smuggler dealing with various contrabands.

I did not hear that one but I did hear of a herper who found and reported 13 hay bale size bales of pot. I know it is true because he showed me pictures of him, his wife, and several DEA agents standing next to the bales.
Aside from that I'm sure more drugs are found hidden in RV's than in herper cars. Maybe we should ban RV's instead.

"Maybe we should ban RV's instead."

Now we're talking! Makes a lot more sense from a road safety point of view, too. Those things are a menace.

Patrick