Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Where would be the best place in texas to search for scutes? Do they occur around wildhorse station? And thanks for putting up with my 10 million qs lol

I am going to suggest two things here, first, you go and get a couple good field guides and study them, preferably with county range maps, and get a good old Texas map.
Secondly, I am going to suggest that you tag along with an experienced herper to go looking for scutes, they can be deadly. I know I could be preaching to the choir, but your many questions lead me to believe you are a novice, nothing wrong with that! I speak from experience here, and you may say I'm not going to get bitten, but it happens. I lost most of my right index finger to an atrox a few years back, and it will definitely change your life, not for the better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please do not take offense, I am trying to help you out here. Read as much as you can, visit zoos and museums and herpetariums if possible, to learn as much as you can BEFORE you go and try it. I know you will probably say I am only gonna photograph, but I almost died because of a careless mistake. I have done my part and hope you do yours to become as responsible a herper as possible!
All that said, I encourage your questions and hope you can make it out west someday. If the time comes, you can get a hold of me so your Mom can meet me and we might be able to find some herps out there. Haha, I am waaaay more careful now!
I will send you a token shot in a minute!
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Todd Hughes

Blake, life for me is very different now, chicks don't dig the dead finger, but I get a lot of laughs from guys, not funny! I just wanted you to know the downsides of a runin with some of the bad boys out there. Don't let this discourage you, but be aware, things happen all the time, sometimes unintentionally. I was actually preparing to do a show for a group of Boy Scouts at winter camp down here, and got bit moving a rattler from its' enclosure to the temporary traveling "hot box". I still did the show, and they got to see it while it was still, ummm, gooey and purple/black/dying. I think they got the point! One kid told me b.s., so I unwrapped and showed him, he exited the building, came back a little pale, and apologized! Haha, that smart@$$ learned not to call b.s.!!!
Just be careful!

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Todd Hughes

awww sorry about your finger. Scutes are realy interesting but i know there toataly off limits to touching lol and if i did look for them id try to find an eperienced herper to tag along. Thanks for all the info!

Thanks Blake, that makes my day and remember, you don't have to be old to be wise!
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Todd Hughes

385 North of Marathon has "scutes" viridus and atrox in numbers. In fact, you will find lots of interesting herps on that road. No alterna and no lepidus, but you will not be bored. In two nights and about 4 hours of herping I observed 69 snakes on 385. 18 diamond backs, 2 scutulatus, 5 viridus, and the rest were garters, glossys, longnosed, hognosed, ground, and gopher snakes. Also, lots of toads.

I agree with Todd, go herping with an experienced herper if you want to find scutulatus. I suggest you head down to Sanderson and herp with Roy Engeldorf. Roy taught me to handle venomous and he is one of the most methodical, responsible, and careful snake handlers I've seen. 1-888-GO-OUTBACK (He owns the outback oasis motel.)

DAN
AlternaRushTheMovie

Ok so sanderson has Scutes and thanks for the giving me a road to hunt them on. I will never be herping by myself ( well ill be with my brother and mom lol ) but if i hunt scutes odds are il try to find someone to help me or stay about 3-4 feet away from the snake and photograph it. So i wont get hurt and the snake wont get hurt win win yay!! lol

You don't have to drive all the way to Marathon to find scutulatus, its just a good spot with Roy nearby.

DAN
Alterna Rush the Movie

Dan, sometimes certain info is best relayed in private messages, just my .02!
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Todd Hughes

Sorry bro, I have no sense of forum etiquette. I'll catch on. Which info by the way? PM if you'd like.

No lepidus on 385? I have one from just south of the border patrol station. Only one I've heard of from there but it takes two to tango! BA

Haven't crossed that one off my list in that county yet, one fromVal Verde is all I have seen.
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Todd Hughes