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Herping the Outer Banks
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by crotalus17 on July 19, 2007
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I want to plan a trip to the Outer Banks and find some of the snakes that don't live in the N.E.. How's early August for herping down there? Is later in the month any better? Anyone also planning a herp field trip there? I recently bought a furmont stump ripper and the first time I used it, I got harrassed by some of Shenandoah's rangers(VA). Is it safer in the Outer Banks to be seen with such a "weapon"? Feel free to email me if anyone doesn't want to post info here.
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by Atrox788 on July 19, 2007
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Herping the outer banks wont give you good results. There are horridus populations on some of the Islands (Canebrake) as well as the outer banks kingsnake but thats about it. It would be more productive to go inland and south twords Wilmington and maybe even SC (SC is better for over all snake numbers I belive). Keep in mind that NC provids protection for all of its venomous and probaly the kingsnake as well. They also set up stings in high volume snake hunting spots. Just an FYI.
Regarding Shennandoah, if you were on the park they would most definately give you crap. Feild hook = habitat destruction in their eyes and also shows that you are intending on catching venomous (why else would you need a hook? LOL) i.e could pose a health risk to yourself and anyone else that comes around you if and when you catch somthing hot. Its always a good idea not to look for snakes in National parks unless you know a ranger and or can proove that your just there for observations. If you were there and useing a feild hook then I have no doubts you were searching for horridus (mountain form). You will never get much sucsess from officals when it comes to this species. They are a species of concern over almost, if not all of their range.
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by guttersnacks on July 19, 2007
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Timbers in Virginia have no special consideration with DGIF. Only Canebrakes in SE VA have any special status assigned to them.
VA DGIF sees both animals as the same species, but the lowland populations are illegal to posses (even c.b.) or mess with in any form. The montain forms are up for grabs pretty much, unless you're in National Park property of course.
As mentioned above, in NC, canebrakes and pigmies are protected, as is the eastern king snake found in the OBX barrier island region. Coppers and moccassins are not protected.
I'm not familiar with SC laws.
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by Atrox788 on July 20, 2007
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I didnt say that timbers had any sort of protection. I said they are a species of concern. Aside from that, if your on a National park then yes, the animals within the park, regardless of the species are indeed protected by law. He wouldnt have ran into a park ranger if he wernt on park land.
As for the cane/timber thing, Va still reconizes them as seprate ssp. Personaly I wish they would put them together and offer both forms protection.
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by Atrox788 on July 20, 2007
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Oh and your right about Agkistrodon. I forgot to seperate them from that statement. Thanks for the correction.
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by guttersnacks on July 20, 2007
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Per a conversation I had with a Va DGIF official on the phone last year, unless they've updated their policies since then, which is possible, I was told they consider the Timber and Canebrake to be the same species, just different variants/populations. I was told I could keep up to 5 timbers in captivity, and zero Canebrakes. Cane brakes are protected, probably because there are low population numbers in Virginia, but this is probably because the Chesapeake, Virginia Beach area is the very tip of their range, so the "low numbers" is a bit skewed. This is just my own observation though.
I asked how they, tha state will determine which is which, especially since they view them as the same species, and I wasnt given a clear answer, so I opted not to even bother with trying to keep any timbers, just in case one was "mis-identified" by an official for some reason and I got fined.
It's completely possible things have changed since then, if so, I stand corrected.
I personally feel the timbers and canes are a divergant animal. They used to be much more similar but are in the process of evolving into two separate species.
Back on topic.....I would suggest the northeastern part of NC in the fall. It's rich with wildlife for sure in the coastal areas, just keep your fingers off the canes and pigmys.
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by MoccasinMan on July 22, 2007
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I have lived on the OBX for 23 years and I love the herping here. The OBX King is protected, but the E. King is not. There are many E. hognose, cornsnakes. gray rat snakes and cottonmouths. herping in August will be best in the evenings and early mornings because of the heat. contact me and I will help you.
Andrew
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by ebaker511 on May 13, 2010
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I'm planning a trip to OBX on May 23, and I was wondering if you know of any hot spots for eastern hogs. I am from the northern tip of WV, and never get to see any because of the high elevations. Any particular areas I should look?
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by FSB on May 15, 2010
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I've been herping the Outer Banks since I was a kid - it's where I caught my first cottonmouth and my first kingsnake, and I remember loggerhead turtles coming ashore to lay eggs on deserted beaches, but no more. Sadly, my favorite places have all been ruined by development and unique populations of mainland species lost forever. Since your profile states you just like to look and don't keep, you can probably still find some worthwhile spots in and around Frisco - Buxton's Woods and the trails behind Hatteras lighthouse in particular. I used to find lots of eastern glass lizards on Bodie Island, and the prettiest cornsnakes I've ever seen. However, you might want to leave the stump ripper in the car as you'll be needing both hands to swat predatory flies and mosquitos, especially the notorious greenheads which will eat you alive. If you get poison ivy, there's plenty of that too, and it's very high-test.
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RE: Herping the Outer Banks
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by SoggyBottomSerpents on May 20, 2010
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VA Dgif told me same species, montane and coastal plains phases...and as long as its a black or yellow montane you're good an you can have up to 5...but if it looks like a cane its off limits...I think its great since mtn horridus are quite common in our state. I agree that the OBX is not your ideal herpin destination especially since you're so close to prime stomping grounds
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