Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do any of you alterna enthusiasts know the outer extensions of the range of "pics" in West Texas? I have personally seen them in Sanderson, near Marathon, and on River Road. What is the farthest west they have been located? For instance, I have never heard of them being found in the Huecos near El Paso, nor in the Eagle Mountains west of Kent. Are they prevalent in the Davis Mountains? Any experienced herpers care to enlighten us? On our next trip out west we would like to find a few for the purpose of photography only. I know they are found in perhaps greater abundance in Terrell and Val Verde counties, although after hundreds of hours hunting there we have yet to find one.
Any general pointers would be most appreciated.

If you get out and walk you can find a lot of picts in the right places. King Mountain, Iraan, Sheffield, Sanderson all have good numbers. Walk along draws and low areas around any water sources. The Davis Mnts have a good number of picts. They are like any other snake, when the conditions are right, you can find them.

They can be abundant in August. Most alterna hunters don't see too many because they are hunting too early in the year for much pic activity.
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Chris Harrison

As Mr. Box said, they are prevalent in the Davis Mountains. There were 4 picked up in September when I was out there and all were picked up between sundown and 11:00 P.M. Again, when the conditions are right, more than just Pics are prevalent. My experience has been when the Copperheads are crawling, so are Alterna. I personally see them as indicator animals. I picked up a large male pictigaster on Boy Scout Road less than 4 minutes after Ric Blair picked up his alterna that night. They were approx. 100-150 yds. apart. I got the short end of the stick since I was looking for Alterna. Quit laughing Ric!!!! You lucky *******! I have not heard of any being caught too much farther than the River Road out of Lajitas.

Wayne H. (www.snakeworld.com)

Roger Conant's book on Agkistrodon has a ton of great information on pictigaster.

Pictagasters are prevalent along Limpia canyon in the Davis Mountains. I have seen some nice burnt orange specimens similar to the incredible orange that Davis Mountain Subbocs have. Also along the Rio Grande, seen them west of Presidio along the river between Presidio and Candelaria/Ruidosa. If you ever watch the Jeff Corwin show, you might remember the episode where he is dropped off with no knowledge of where he is, his goal being to accurately figure out his location based on the herptofauna. As it turns out he is in West Texas wandering from the Ft. Davis area down to the river near Presidio. The show ends with him finding a Copperhead along the river's bank. If I remember correctly he also found a nice terra cotta lepidus in the Davis Mountains which he describes as a Banded Rock Rattlesnake rather than a Mottled Rock Rattlesnake??? Do any of you remember this? Nice slip up....

I don't remember that Jeff Corwin slip-up, but they are numerous!!

I have also gotten copperheads up by Ruidosa and across the river in Mexico much of the way up towards Ojinaga, but haven't hunted in those areas for many years.