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SWEETWATER REPORTER (Texas) 15 March 11 Letter: House Bill 1788
Dear Editor,
Are the residents of Nolan County and surround area aware that Representative Farias of San Antonio introduced House Bill 1788 that would require anyone collecting live rattlesnakes to have both a Texas Hunting License plus a special $10 Stamp or be guilty of a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor?
The state of Texas is clearly desperate for money, but is Texas so desperate for funding that you support imposing a tax on anyone collecting live rattlesnakes for the annual Rattlesnake Roundup?
Apparently anyone who participated in the Rattlesnake Roundup would have to purchase a Texas Hunting License plus the special $10 Stamp. Out-of-state participants would apparently have to purchase the nonresident Texas Hunting License.
Too many members of the Texas Legislature from urban districts might not recognize a rattlesnake even if it was coiled under on their desk, or maybe even voting from one of the adjacent desks. One would hope that HB 1788 is one of the many bills that will languish without serious consideration until adjournment kills it.
Anyone who has killed a rattlesnake may have observed that even a headless snake can continue to strike. Residents of areas infested with rattlesnakes should take steps to assure that HB 1788 is safely dispatched.
The best defense against this folly is for concerned citizens to communicate their opinion on HB 1788 to their state representative and senator.
Should HB 1788 pass through the Legislature without being amended to exempt collection of live rattlesnakes, and Governor Perry signs it, anyone cited for a violation should demand a jury trial and hope that jury panel includes one or more rural residents who live near a rattlesnake den.
Although I live in an urban location now, I was reared in Fisher County where family members still own prime property for rattlesnake dens. I know that I could never find a defendant guilty of collecting live rattlesnakes without paying a tax to Texas. Could you?
JH McHaney, Houston, TX
Letter: House Bill 1788

I guess that's one way to look at it.

My understanding of the "Herp Stamp" is provide the numbers of people willing to buy the stamp so that TP&W will have some idea on whether the program is worth pursuing. According to the bill, it will also allow us to once again "Road Hunt"

Rattlesnake Round-up people are ALREADY required to have a Hunting License and Non-game Collectors Permit or Non-Game Commercial Permit. I know for a fact, that most of these people have neither and are already in violation. What's one more violation on top of the many laws they are already breaking in regards to Round-ups?
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Tim Cole
www.austinherpsociety.org
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
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