Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is there one???....if so what are the criteria?????.....what's been seen??

haven't heard of one yet. i think that is what most are hoping for. i have been fortunate enough to be part of a study and have been issued a permit by the state to legally collect certain snakes from the roadway. at this point i would be willing to pay for a license to legally hunt the roads and even take a safety course on "how to pull over on the shoulder" if that's what it takes. hell i'll even wear a glow vest and wave at the 18-wheelers. and if such a thing came to be, it would only validate my theory on this new law... to generate money.

westtexas,

What study? Funded by who and for what? I know there are a lot of folks who have Scientific Collecting Permit exemptions from the ROW ban. They are not supposed to be collecting herps for their personal collection. But who is watching them? I know some folks use them to collect for their personal collection. Academics and others (zoo folks and rehabbers) have been using "permits" for years to get animals for their personal collection.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

wow, ok, yes sir, you are correct. it does not allow for general personal collecting. it is a permit. thus it only permits one to or gives permission to collect/study a very specific snake from a specific location. so no, i do not use it as a free pass to collect any snake. in addition, i do not keep any snakes (other than a trio of tangerine albino hondurans). however, it would be nice to be able to collect any snake via a special license for those who would like to do so. this new law has caused a lot of heart ache and problems from true snake lovers such as myself. it's really quite a shame. i would love to share some of the great snake moments ive had with my son without fear of getting a ticket or going to jail.

ever since i was a kid, i've found snakes to be fascinating and mysterious. this gravitation towards snakes evolved into a passion. some of my most memorable experiences growing up involved exploring snake habitat. that being said, i could not imagine depriving my son of these rich experiences. when my son and i see snakes and get excited together, its a bonding experience. and my son inevitably identifies and associates our snake outings with with life long memories just as i did. so what is the answer to this problem?

Oh, really, Mike? You KNOW that, do you?

Let's see your evidence.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Actually, it does happen...even I know that, and I don't know anything. By the same token, it's not fair to cast all with a permit under the same umbrella...just because someone has a permit, I don't automatically assume that they are using it for personal collection. The same way that I know people trespass when snake hunting, but don't assume all snake hunters trespass.

Oh. I'm sure it does happen on occasion-but I doubt the practice is widespread-certainly not to the extent implied. Most academics I know, just like most herp hobbyists, are ethical and law-abiding.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Brad,
He's not always right, but in this case he is. I know of at least three folks with SCP's collecting beyond the scope of the permit and at least one of those folks was selling WC animals at his table as recently as last year.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

who does one contact for info re these permits????

I would contact the special licensing unit at TPQ-but I doubt you will have any luck unless you can show association with an accredited zoo or academic institution....
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

..
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

>>who does one contact for info re these permits????
>>

Bob, stop posting that picture. LOL Here's a better looking subject that you're linked too.

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Steve W.

west texas banded keibasa

>>west texas banded keibasa

It's a good thing Aaron didn't have some bread. It would've been collected.
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Steve W.

>>>>it would only validate my theory on this new law... to generate money.
>>

Yes. They weren't getting their money.

Ironically they are not checking herpers on private property as Maj. Whitaker said they would, instead they are hiding in the bushes and writing traffic tickets.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

Joe- Have any tickets actually been written?
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

>>Joe- Have any tickets actually been written?
>>-----
>>Brad Chambers
>>WWW.HCU-TX.ORG
>>
>>The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

I can only confirm one traffic ticket.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

Joe, has anyone actually been cited for collecting from the road way? I have info from a friend of mine that they were walking cuts looking for inverts were checked and ask if they had any snakes. Warden was friendly through the whole process. Clark

>>Joe, has anyone actually been cited for collecting from the road way? I have info from a friend of mine that they were walking cuts looking for inverts were checked and ask if they had any snakes. Warden was friendly through the whole process. Clark

Not that I am aware of. Keep in mind it is not illegal to have snakes, or collecting equipment in the car, we have a right to transport legally collected wildlife and equipment in the car to and from private property on public roads and ROWs.

Photographing wildlife on roads and right of ways is NOT illegal, nor is collecting DOR's or insects off the road surface.

I think it's pretty funny that this law they shoved down our throats is practically unenforceable and in turn requires resources from every law enforcement faction in the area to NOT enforce.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

Thanks, Clark

were they hiding in.....and did they have the properpermit for "BUSH HIDING"????