Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I hope I got the attention of some of the real professional grayband collectors out there and not the bogus ones who claim to have collected 16 last month(sure you did!!!).I have been focusing my efforts in a very unique and isolated area over the last 4yrs. I have made 3 trips over this period but I have not been successful although I am convinced that graybands are there and probably in relative quantity. I think several factors have worked against me. One that I believe was especially pertinent on my last trip was the full moon and cloudless nights that I had to deal with. I don't wish to reveal the exact area of my focus but I will say it is very unique, isolated and teaming with wildlife normaly and high in the mountains of northern Coahuila.It is probably very similar to the higher elevatons of southern Big Bend. For various reasons,among them speaking to the locals, I believe they are experiencing drought-like conditions at this time. I'm begining to believe that their rainy season does not start until July and that I would improve my chances of finding graybands after these rains rather than May/June like most collectors do in Val Verde. Also, I believe the nighttime temperatures( after midnight) were still too cool. They felt in the upper 60s at night(after midnight) even though we continued to search thru the entire night. Eagle Pass had temperatures of 104-105 degrees F in the daytime while the night before it was probably in the high 60s high in the mountains of northern Coahuila. My idea is to try July next year after their heavy rains and when the temperatures high in the mountains should be a little warmer at night. Are these ideas reasonable and similar to what happens up in the Davis Mountains and other areas at higher elevations in Big Bend? Any input would be appreciated except anything to do with the legalities, risks etc. I've been traveling Mexico for many years now and know my way around better than most. So please spare me any lectures. But those people providing helpful suggestions, advice, info-the favors could be returned to those who may have similar interests. Please no replies from amateurs and I have no desire to educate the uninformed about legal aspects or care to hear about them myself. Thank you. Tomas

July and August are your friends

Best
Joe

Hey, I just noticed you had posted a drymarchon pic a while back in the indigo forum (couldn't see it though). I live in Medina county and it seems like there is a healthy population here. Have heard a couple people say they have seen some recently. I saw one last month crossing the road a little south of Tarpley. It almost got run over if I would not have grabbed it off the road and put it over the fence on the other side. Noticed you post in the horned lizard forum too. My cousin claims he has seen several P.cornutum this year by his work in Stone Oak, on 281 N. I grew up a little south of there and NEVER saw one so I was surprised. Reptiles rule...

Yup we have some land in Medina county, and that's the second Indigo this year on the property. It's nice to see them doing well and no damn wonder I haven't seen an atrox there in years!

Also have Texas Tortoise there and Texas Horned Lizards, nice
to all those species doing well on a mere 100 acre tract.

Are you in Castroville? You live there all your life? If so
you probably know my wife's relatives.

Best
Joe

There must not be any indigos around here because I caught 3 atrox in 2 nights. The last 4 didn't even rattle or strike when caught (with a pole net) isn't that strange? Maybe they won't bite me if I play with them? lol Sure wish I could find a desert king though. I might meet the lost and found Catmanhu out Del Rio way later this week. If my wife lets me get away!

Cheers,
Lance G.

Unlike Duckman I post pictures!
There is actually a 4th atrox under the one in the back left corner. (But who really cares, they are more common than Texas rats around here) I like 'em though. But the big one hates me. Bzzzzzzzz

I have not collected Mexico, but I have collected the Big Bend area since 1969. I have collected my share over the years, in a lot of different conditions. I have always considered July to be the rainy season in normal years.That area seems to experience a so called 10 year drought that goes from average rainfall to nothing and then a very wet year or two, decreasing to average rainfall for a couple of years and then decreasing to drought again. The alterna in that area seem to adapt to temps relevant to the altitude at which they live. For example, the road north of Study Butte I call Luna Vista is about ten degrees cooler than the rd. west of Lajitas, and alterna I have collected on Luna Vista range from 72 to 83 degrees and the alterna I have collected on the river rd. were from 80 to 86 degrees. Moisture does seem to be a factor since I have collected more in wet or average years than in dry year. To much for this forum. Have you seen Coleonx reticulatus there? You can email me at rickyjgreen@aol.com if you are interested in more of my opinion

How high in elevation are you talking about? The drought that most of GBK land has been experiencing may have some effect if you are lower down, but probably not as much if you are higher as the humidity etc will be higher in more botanically rich and speciose canyons etc.

While moon phase may or may not have an affect, it will be debated forever. Same with wind. I have had great success on windy nights. Bright moon seems to reduce overall herp numbers, but I will not say it eliminates the possibility of encountering a GBK. Rapid temp changes are your biggest enemy. If you are having temps of 105 drop to upper 60's in a short period of time you will not have much luck. If, however, you get this change over several hours where there are a few hours of mid 70's to mid 80's temps you will see snakes. In this situation, July and August will do you just fine, as will of course, April, May, June and September. If your habitat is good just keep after it. Hunt ALL night and keep hunting. If they are there you will get one.

Well Tomas, perhaps if you weren't so arrogant you'd get more help. The 16 caught this year have now gone to 18 and counting. You see, if you live here, you can go EVERY night as opposed to those like you who have to sit home wishing and planning for thier one shot trip down here in the hopes of seeing one, much less several. Also, stop trying to impress us all with your skills - there is NO SKILL involved in collecting alterna. It is purely a matter of chance. The weather, moon, rain or lack thereof, temp, none of that makes a difference. I've seen them colleced in the absolute poorest of conditions and in places not normally hunted. I hunt many of those for several reasons - no traffic and a basically untouched population. How do you think I caught that many ? Also, unlike many who make wild claims, mine are actually here and numerous collectors have already seen them this year. Ric Blair posted here about the time he hunted the river road and a local had been out all night and not seen anything. Within several hours during a rain that same night, on the same stretch of raod while passing this guy, he got three ! Also, if you get near an electrical storm, you will see a lot more animals. One collector here during such a storm in Sanderson, saw five DOR in just a few hours. Two of them were in the road hooked up breeding when hit. He got pics too. If the animals are there, you will see them regardless of the conditions; especially if you are the only one collecting that area. Seems if you were such a knowledgeable alterna collector, you would have produced some by now. Maybe you should talk more to one of us who ARE successful ! Good luck. I've seen many from the area you are hunting and they are typically unusual, but UGLY as alterna go ! Keep us posted on your success or the lack thereof.

Why not use a digicam to document your captives and post them so we can see your eighteen alternas? Not that we doubt you, but seeing in this case would make believers out of most of us. I remember a hunting crew in West Texas during the month of June in 96 who claimed they had captured 12 graybands in one week of hunting! We went to their hotel room in Del Rio, where they pulled alterna after alterna out of white athletic socks. We always wondered if it was possible that this crew brought these animals from home in order to impress the other hunters. There were many other herpers out there, but none met with the "success" these had. On that trip we found a male alterna phase in Sanderson and a screamer light phase blairs 7 miles east of Langtry. At any rate, your claim is dubiuos, but within the realm of possibility. Why not post a few pics?