Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What are the best spots for herping (esp for Trans Pecos rats and gray banded kings) in west tx where it is legal to collect a couple breeding specimens? And what are the best techniques for these species?
Also, is it legal to collect from Black Gap Wildlife Management? I know many people do, but is it legal?
Thanks so much!! =)
Amanda

Have you checked the Greybanded forum (72)?

>>What are the best spots for herping (esp for Trans Pecos rats and gray banded kings) in west tx where it is legal to collect a couple breeding specimens?

There are no best spots anymore, what with all TX roads now designated as "wildlife sanctuaries" and illegal to hunt (including cuts on the right-of-way).

And what are the best techniques for these species?

Spend every summer (all of it) timing your trips to the new moon and hope to either get lucky and find an alterna your first trip, or make the average 1 find per 5 years! I've yet to find one, even when road cruising was legal.

If you can find private land with paved roads, and permission to hunt, that would be the easiest way to find them. Subocs are a little easier to find (based on my own experience of subocs-2, alterna-0 ). Joining HCU could be a good way to gain access to land.

>>Also, is it legal to collect from Black Gap Wildlife Management?

No--you can hunt other animals there, but not herps.

I know many people do, but is it legal?

The roads used to be fair game, but alas, no more.

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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

"Also, is it legal to collect from Black Gap Wildlife Management? I know many people do, but is it legal?"

Actually few, if any, ever collected in Black Gap Wildlife Management Area. They collected off the paved road that goes through it. The pavement is public road and is not part of the park. Just like if you were hunting a deer and it ran into the park it would be illegal to persue it, if an animal is inside the park and leaves the park it becomes a legally collectable animal.

As the other poster said, that's all a mute point as last year they made it illegal to collect off any public road, no matter whether it goes through a protected area or not. You can still collect off private property, with permission from the owner and you can still observe and photograph on public roadways so long as you do not touch the animals.

There is some private property at the very end of the road and the old owner used to let you collect if you paid him but it has since come under new ownership and I'm not sure if the new owner would let you. There are supposedly alot of Mountain Lions out there and the country is very rugged. I would not recommend hunting it alone if you still can.

>>What are the best spots for herping (esp for Trans Pecos rats and gray banded kings) in west tx where it is legal to collect a couple breeding specimens? And what are the best techniques for these species?
>>Also, is it legal to collect from Black Gap Wildlife Management? I know many people do, but is it legal?
>>Thanks so much!! =)
>>Amanda

Like the other posters said, everything in Texas along it's public roads are now off limits. HCU has agreements with private land owners in various locations in the Trans-Pecos that have both of the spps. you mentioned. You have to be a member of HCU and then you can browse through their list of properties to find one that you would like to hunt. Plus HCU is working with legislators to get these laws fixed. The more members the better.
HCU-TX

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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

one of the best stretches of road to look for those snakes in west texas is on f.m. 170, ruidoso to candeleria. its a great area, give it a try and best of luck!

Thanks for all the advice! I will see what I can pull off. Sucks the new laws they passed...