

http://tpwd.texas.gov/business/licenses ... reational/
Moderator: Scott Waters
Hadar wrote:
The "Reptile and Amphibian Endorsement" for $10 is for "capturing indigenous reptiles or amphibians on the shoulder of a public road or any unpaved area of a public right of way" according to the TPWD website. It looks like there is a 5 day non-resident special hunting permit that could work for this trip so participants are only paying $48 instead of $132. After looking over the TPWD site, it seems diamonback terrapins are completely off limits and there is a regulation which states, "No person may use artificial light from a motor vehicle to locate, capture, or attempt to capture a reptile or amphibian"? Does that mean no road cruising?
I can contact some of my friends at TPWD to see if they can clarify. Unfortunately they are all men, otherwise I would invite them to join us.
Cheers, Heather
Thanks Soopaman for the advice! I was thinking of coming early or staying a few extra days to herp in Roby, TX with a friend from the Dallas Zoo.Soopaman wrote:Hadar wrote:
The "Reptile and Amphibian Endorsement" for $10 is for "capturing indigenous reptiles or amphibians on the shoulder of a public road or any unpaved area of a public right of way" according to the TPWD website. It looks like there is a 5 day non-resident special hunting permit that could work for this trip so participants are only paying $48 instead of $132. After looking over the TPWD site, it seems diamonback terrapins are completely off limits and there is a regulation which states, "No person may use artificial light from a motor vehicle to locate, capture, or attempt to capture a reptile or amphibian"? Does that mean no road cruising?
I can contact some of my friends at TPWD to see if they can clarify. Unfortunately they are all men, otherwise I would invite them to join us.
Cheers, Heather
Night road cruising is technically illegal (yet the light of day is apparently okay...) If you get out and just observe an animal without handling it, then it's not an issue, but as soon as you pick it up it's technically against the law.
Animals from the shoulder to the fence may be walked up, and this is one of the most common styles of herping in west Texas, though it's efficacy and entertainment value is questionable.
All participants will need an ANSI Class 3 safety vest to comply with the law as well.
You won't have to worry about diamondback terrapins out west. But they can be observed around Galveston if anyone stops by there en route.
I'd recommend looking up Sky Stevens on Facebook, a female herper from Alpine, for advice on herping the area and compliance with the law.
I'm not sure if she'll be around to join you. She was finishing up her master's degree and looking for PhD positions and did not plan to still be living in west Texas this summer, but she could still be there. Regardless, she's a great resource for the area and can guide you for great success in seeing some cool stuff. Also knows the best places to eat! Cowdog in Alpine being a favorite of mine.klawnskale wrote:Soopaman: thank you for that valuable information. It is greatly appreciated. Maybe we could get Sky Stevens to join us.
Heather: the 5 day permit would definitely work and save us money.
I figured it would start getting hot that time of year. But then being a desert rat that has worked under those conditions, I am adaptable. From my experience as you suggested, early mornings would work best (and ladies, please take lots of water,sunscreen, and a hat for those walks!) then take that afternoon siesta and commence again at dusk. The animals pretty much follow that type schedule under those conditions and won't be out and about in the mid afternoon heat. It starts to heat up real fast by noon. That is the usual schedule I have followed working in summer heat. The Davis Mountains are one of the locations I was hoping to check out.Soopaman wrote:I'm not sure if she'll be around to join you. She was finishing up her master's degree and looking for PhD positions and did not plan to still be living in west Texas this summer, but she could still be there. Regardless, she's a great resource for the area and can guide you for great success in seeing some cool stuff. Also knows the best places to eat! Cowdog in Alpine being a favorite of mine.klawnskale wrote:Soopaman: thank you for that valuable information. It is greatly appreciated. Maybe we could get Sky Stevens to join us.
Heather: the 5 day permit would definitely work and save us money.
And I'm sure y'all are already aware, but day herping is almost non-existant in west Texas in the summer, at least at the low elevations along the river near Terlingua. If there's an aspirations to hike and see things in the day, I recommend early mornings or a couple hours before dusk in the Davis Mountains. It may even be good to start there andcruiseherp it at dusk and then head back down to the river to herp there as temps fall. Temperatures may not be so extreme with this El Nino year, but the first year I went to west Texas and herped the River road, near Terlingua, the air temperature was 100°F at midnight!
The ranch looks amazing!klawnskale wrote:If anyone is curious about the ranch and its amenities where we plan to stay in Terlingua for this trip here is their website. We would be able to select from a group offering different house models to stay in (also depending on how many participate). All costs would be shared:
http://www.bigbendvacations.com/#!retreat/c6wb
Oh no! Hannah, how many people said they were interested in joining?klawnskale wrote:The event has been postponed until further notice. Work schedules and financial issues have put it on the back burner. Hopefully it will re-emerge sometime in the near future.
Hadar wrote:Oh no! Hannah, how many people said they were interested in joining?klawnskale wrote:The event has been postponed until further notice. Work schedules and financial issues have put it on the back burner. Hopefully it will re-emerge sometime in the near future.
Cheers, Heather