Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My wife , Maureen and I build our vacations every year around snake hunting, sightseeing, food & spirits, and anything fun. We have traveled from coast to coast, met lots of great people, and have had some awesome adventures. This is the time of year we plan our trips and start getting cabin fever. This year we will be in the Carolinas, the pine barrens of N.J., and the Timber dens in N.Y., We are also going to be in California in late April and early May . This was inspired by Brian Hubbs book on Mt. Kings. We also enjoy hunting boas out in Palm Springs. We will finish out the season with the new moon in June in SW Texas for alterna.
Here are a few pics. to see if I remember how to post....
N.Y. timber

Pinesnake from N.J

Hognosed snakes in S. Carolina

Copperhead in S. Carolina

cornsnake from Fla.

eastern diamondback in Fla
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{29F4C5D7-3868-4923-9114-04D199421603}/picture.JPG
eastern indigo in fla.

Fla.cottonmouth

graybanded kingsnake in Texas

Bairds ratsnake in Texas

Western Diamondback in Texas

Banded Rock Rattlesnake in Az.

red diamond rattlesnake in Cal.
Southern Pacific rattlesnake in Cal.
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{D614E151-2A89-482C-B812-1C7F269E85A0}/picture.JPG
Colorado Desert Sidewinder in Cal.

looking forward to seeing old friends again this year and to seeing some of you in the field
Coach

Southern Pacific rattlesnake

Red Diamond rattlesnake

Awesome pictures, Coach and Mrs. Coach! Haven't had the pleasure but hope to meet ya in W. Texas in June! Have heard a lot about you and it was all good. It will be my first trip to gray band land and I'm very pumped. Again, thanks for the great pics and save me a G.B.!!!
Todd Hughes aka antelope

I have to warn you ........if you go to SW Texas you will get a virus that will compell you to return every year! Furthermore .......it causes palpitations each day at dusk, sleeplessness at night, and an overall increase in body temperature known as alterna fever! Catch It !
Hope to see you out there. Most folks stay at the motel 6 when in Del Rio, the Outback Motel in Sanderson (Roy and Ruth are herpers themselves) , The Gage in Marathon if you are interested in Black Gap, and the Easter Egg or Wild Horse Station when hunting the Christmas Mts. and River Road. Do your homework before you go. The Alterna Page is the best resourse site. You can catch the link on the Gray Banded Kingsnake page of this forum. We will be looking for you.
Tom (Coach)

Thanks for all the great advice, Coach. I've only been planning this trip for 3 years and feel like I know the herpers already. I have the fever and it is even transmittable over the net! Hope to see ya there and happy herping!
Todd Hughes

Nice post.Was the Pine carrying,She looks very heavybodied.Nice finds...Chip

I only noticed at the time it was a healthy female. This picture was taken in early spring , too early in fact to be showing. N.J. is a hands off herps state so we only get in the field there when we're in the area for other reasons and then only for pics and video . The type habitat .... aka the pine barrens are very limited due to urban sprawl, .......N.J. has recognized this and protected whats remaining of the barrens . Pinesnakes are a huge thrill to see in the field and we support N.J. for protecting them and other wildlife in the barrens for future generations to enjoy.
Tom (Coach)

Sorry so late,I was taking some pics in Fla.As far as the Barrens,it is a beautiful but yet fragile area...Definately some habitat destruction.I have been hastled down there in the past for nothing short of just of a hike on the road with a camera.I dont even come as close to taking a field guide down there,let alone remove an animal out of the Barrens.Those Pines are very impressive and are an absolute pleasure and privledge to come across down there.I think the jersey northerns could very well be the most attractive of the whole p.m.m range.Good herpin and good luck....Chip.....

The best thing about South Texas is the ICE CREAM...

SteveO

don't you love the little details!

For the first SoTx run. Dianna and I got a new Camera 6.1 mp kodak. Can't wait to see the first thing crossing the road. If you haven't got one yet, I picked up several new lights that should be useful for cruising. The first is made by twintask and is sold at bass pro shop or outdoor world. It is a combo xenon/led light. The led is supposed to last for 80 hours and the xenon for about 3. This one is 28 dollars. The next one is a xenon only with 2 lithium batteries from target. It is about 4 inches long (really small) and claims to be 500,000 cp.
It is much brighter than my 6d mag light. So luckily the lights are getting brighter and smaller. I also picked up a new stubby 1. My old stubby 2 is getting repaired at General MFG. Anyway I hope you guys have a good trip. Remember to bring the nerf football!

Take Care,

SteveO