Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I may be traveling to various places in the US later this year, and if I end up in a good spot to do a little collared hunting, I'd like to take the opportunity. Whereabouts do you guys have good luck catching lizards? Mostly interested in C. collaris, but if I came across a C. dickersonae or vestigium, I guess I wouldn't complain too much. Any legalities to be aware of if I want to bring a lizard or two back to California?

>>I may be traveling to various places in the US later this year, and if I end up in a good spot to do a little collared hunting, I'd like to take the opportunity. Whereabouts do you guys have good luck catching lizards?

Check out my collared lizard site for a listing of states to find collaris (go to the "Mountain Boomers" link, then click on "the gallery and links."

To my knowledge, dickersonae aren't found in the US, and vestigium is restricted to southern California.

Any legalities to be aware of if I want to bring a lizard or two back to California?

Yes. PLEASE make sure you consult the applicable regulations (hunting or fishing) for collection of native reptiles in the desired state, purchase the appropriate license, and don't collect more than permitted. If in doubt, you MAY want to consult the state's fish/wildlife folks, but I haven't had good luck with that (I've been replied to by the "agenda" type wardens who interpret the laws as they see fit, in other words flat out told I couldn't collect something that by regulation was obviously legal). Perhaps the best advice would be to contact a herp society in the state you hope to collect, and get the skinny from them.

Whatever you do, don't illegally collect, because once you transport such animals across our biologically-inconsequential state boundaries, you've just violated the Lacey Act.

If you're a CA resident, by regulation, you'd be limited to 2 vestigium in possession, regardless of origin (even captive-bred).

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

I don't remember the details, but last year after I returned from Big Bend National Park, I was doing some web surfing and I ran across information about a permit in Texas that is required if you are going to collect lizards. There were specific species listed, and I remember thinking that by implication, it might be okay to collect invader species like mediterranean geckos that are not considered to be appropriately indigenous.

I believe I found it by google searching on some species names, and the list came up.

Actually, it just occurred to me that mediterranean geckos would probably be a really good food for collared lizards!
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ETChipotle

Reptiles/amphibians are considered nongame animals, and you need a hunting license to collect (which means you must have completed Hunter Education, even if you don't plan on using a firearm in your efforts!).

The species listed as ETChipotle mentioned are those to which the bag limit applies. Consult this link to see the list. Basically, if a species isn't listed, there is no bag limit. Collareds have no bag limit, and I've heard of commercial collectors getting 100 a day from the Permian oil fields.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet