Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We just returned from a few days out west. Monday on Juno, one lep. and three days in Big Bend, mostly on Luna Vista and a now destroyed Peppers Hill. Things were not moving much there so we headed home friday. When we went through Langtry late afternoon, we decided to stay for a while. Melissa and I took turns driving and walking the cuts until about 1:30 am, which produced 1 Arizona and 1 Hypsiglena. Excited as we were (lol) we decided to walk one more cut before we headed for East Tex. I went over the top and she walked the bare shoulder. About half way down the cut I heared someone calling my name in a voice I had never heard before, but I did recognize the word ALTERNA. She found a nice light phase female blairs about half way between the cut and the road.
So welcome Melissa, the newest member of the alterna crazed community.
Oh,and we did stay one more night and didn't see a single snake. Not many snakes but one of the best trips I have ever had.

to mention the Pepper Hill situation. For the folks that remember the somewhat THIN road from Terlingua ( the new OCEAN of pavement done a few years ago from Study Butte ), It seems that Steve Smith will get his way ( I think this is the reason that i was told it was being done ) to widen the road all the way from Study to Lajitas. I had also heard that it may very well be the same one day on past Lajitas but I don't know the political power of that being done since it is the state park. But if indeed the road way of River Road is puplic domain ( and it IS suppose to be ) it COULD be done. I think I saw a mentioning of this in the Alpine Avalanche newspaper. Did you hear about Pete W. and company almost being sucked in by a wash flood out there on the gap ? Sorry i missed you. Did anybody see the HUGE white, diesel, dually, pic-up hunting on 118 and eventaully RR ? I wanted to stop several times to talk to them but either they had someone right in back of them or I did.

Chambo

Hey, I did see that big dually. I hear he is one of the old timers. He got a blairs in Langty and last month he got a milksnake and an alterna from Luna Vista. Oh, by the way, the milk laid three eggs last night
Did you know that Lajitas bought hwy 170 from about the museum to the county line and they are going to gate it to keep the low lifes out and put a loop around the north side of Lajitas??

Smith was still fighting with the electric Co. for more power and something about more water rights ? Did anybody see the golf course going in Study Butte to compete ( I hope it wasn't part of the Lajitas deal and i don't think it was )with Lajitas ? I'm sure someone out there knows more of this than i do however.
Now when you say " old timer " , you mean older than us ? LOL !

Chambo

People at the motel in Study Butte told me that they were building the golf course because locals and tourists were not allowed to play on the Lajitas course.
And by oldtimer, I mean about my age.

You are an old goat, oops, I mean oldtimer, and a spring chicken all in one!!! Last month, everytime I saw that big white dually diesel they were being questioned by some sort of law enforcement officer, maybe two at a time???

Congrats on the Langtry blairs!!!! Now next time when she wants to stop and pick up rocks (I bet that's what she was really doing) you'll be a gentleman and help her. LOL!!!

Congrats on the blairs Rick. I'm sure you're gonna send some pics out west, right?

Tell melissa, that I have a couple GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, rocks in the front yard I would be MORE the willing to send your way for the little guy.

Nice find.
James

I saw that truck, we almost stopped to talk to them (they were working the cut) but we decided the next cut up the road was much to good to pass up at a time like that . We caught a t.p. copper and thats about it. Ive been hunting for t.p. rats, leps, and alterna for almost three years now and not seen a one. BTW did any one happen to notice us in the silver Subaru wagon? If you did maybe you can give me hints on what i was doing wrong. lol

Oh and on the way back we saw this blacktail.

The guy in the big white truck noticed you and he said you were doing all the right things. It just takes a while in the Bend. If you are looking for subocs, they are everywhere. Alterna and leps are a different story. 8 miles north of Study Butte{Luna Vista} and the Big Hill west about 17 miles, the occasional one from Lajitas, 1 to 3 miles west of the co. line are the places to look for them. Road cruising is the best. We hunt from 30 minutes before dark until about 4:00am. Never caught one at 4 but it seems like the thing to do. Hang in there. The Bend can be brutal but when she gives one up it is worth the effort.

Luck Rick

Thanx so much for the help if I see you next time I will be sure to stop. By the way you werent the only one being bothered by the locals. We got pulled over by the border patrol. lol