Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Believe or not I have been coming to Texas since 1986. My wife
and I have not come every year, but we figure we've made the
trip at least once a year for 12 of the 18 years. I have yet
to find a live gray-banded!!! We did find one d.o.a. several
trips ago. However we have enjoyed every trip taking in the
sites along the way. I have been fortunate enough to catch 2
milk snakes in the xmas mountains and three desert kingsnakes.
I have bred my female desert kingsnake with my male california
kingsnake and got an unsual patten on the offspring.

We are making the trip this year in July. Usually we leave around mid June. Does anyone feel that July is still a good
time to go. We have also tryed in april and may a few times.

We have enjoyed reading all the posts and hope this year we
can be as lucky as some of you.

Our poor son has been making the trips with us since he was
6 months old. He is now 12 and tells me I have a better chance
of being stuck by lightning 18 times!

You can catch them at any time (particularly from April through October). While everyone has their thoughts about weather, moon, time of year, and more, the fact remains: you have a better chance catching one if you are hunting in their known range than if you aren't!! LOL!! However, it is true. I lived in Big Bend years ago. You can catch them in July.

Read the veteran hunters posts and you'll see one very common consistency.... patience and perseverance. You seem to have them both. After the time and effort you have put in I hope this your year. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Thanks for the advise. After years of checking weather conditions, ect. I have to agree with you that a lot of it is
just being in the right spot at the right time (when the snake
crosses the road). We are all thinking happy alterna thoughts
this year and maybe we will get lucky....

Sean

Again, not the expert in the department but it seems that things really get going in the Alpine, Davis mtn area in July.
The standard Val Verde areas are promising, but it gets hot. You really need to hunt until the early morning. I caught one at the end of July. Male from Langtry. If you are really looking for reptiles I would time your trip to coincide with the dark of the moon. This will help out a bunch.

Good luck, You will get one eventually.

Steven O

thanks Steven, We decided to plan our trip during the dark
moon phase - it certainly won't hurt.

Sean

HKM is correct, he knows as much about Big Bend as anyone. As for myself, I have collected several in July but when I am not so lucky I remember all the other cool things I see and do in that area. I will be there this year in dark of the moon , hope to see you there.

Yeah, like following "dingy Dave" around with our lights off hoping he wasn't go to search your truck and ask about your horses hay!!! LOL!!! The good ol' days!!!!

Hey Saddleman,

We'll be coming out the second week in July and arrive
during the last quarter of the moon in Terrlingua. After
hunting a few nights we'll head out to Hwy 277. With no
moon and our fingers crossed maybe we'll get lucky this time.

Do you know anyone that has stayed at the Indianhead Ranch?
We were thinking of staying there a few nights. Any input
would be appreciated.

Thanks, Sean

I have not stayed at Indianhead, a good place to stay in Terlingua is Longhorn Ranch Motel. $50.00 a night and is about 3 miles north of Luna Vista. I will be out there the 15th thru the 20th, give or take a few days. If I do not see you, good luck.

Later Rick