Herping mentor/buddy?

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

Moderator: Scott Waters

Post Reply
User avatar
amtz.zero
Posts: 54
Joined: January 31st, 2011, 8:38 am

Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by amtz.zero »

Hello, I'm looking for someone who knows what they're doing to go herping with. I don't know if I go at the wrong time or look in the wrong places, but I don't have very much luck when I go herping. I would love to go to the Tejon trip but I cant. I'm in Riverside county (Moreno valley) and I'm available mostly anytime. So if you live near me, and would like to herp with someone, let me know.
if this is the wrong place to put this, please delete or move, thanks.

P.s. I mostly want to see crotalus species, including atrox. But I love all snakes. Thanks.
User avatar
Nature Nate
Posts: 510
Joined: August 24th, 2010, 10:14 am
Location: San Diego

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by Nature Nate »

We're going to need a little more information about you buddy. Herpers are notoriously reclusive, but often they will come out of their shell if they can get a handle on who you are and what your motivations are behind wanting to find snakes (poacher or new enthusiast?) I'd be happy to take you out herping if you are simply wanting to get into the hobby the right way and meet new people, but I live all the way in San Diego. Do you have access to transportation? How about you tell us a little more about yourself like age, life history, goals, current life situation, etc. Nothing too personal, just the basics so we can know how to get to know you.

My name is Nate, I'm the California chapter's Education Specialist. I'm in my 20's and work as a biological field technician for the United States Geological Survey in the Western Ecological Research Center in San Diego. I've been fascinated with herps my whole life and finally, by God's grace, got a job doing what I love and working with endangered species. Next time you're in San Diego give me a ring and we can hang out.

Hopefully you can come down during one of the last two weekends this month when we are doing our our herp bioblitz in Orange County. We're going to have a lot of the other members out there at the same time looking for herps in some habitat that is normally off limits to herpers. It would be a great time for you to get to know some of the people in this group face to face and get to know some expert tips from some other savvy herpers

Another chance to meet a bunch of folks and herp would be at the Tejon ranch survey on the 9th!
User avatar
amtz.zero
Posts: 54
Joined: January 31st, 2011, 8:38 am

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by amtz.zero »

Nature Nate wrote:We're going to need a little more information about you buddy. Herpers are notoriously reclusive, but often they will come out of their shell if they can get a handle on who you are and what your motivations are behind wanting to find snakes (poacher or new enthusiast?) I'd be happy to take you out herping if you are simply wanting to get into the hobby the right way and meet new people, but I live all the way in San Diego. Do you have access to transportation? How about you tell us a little more about yourself like age, life history, goals, current life situation, etc. Nothing too personal, just the basics so we can know how to get to know you.

My name is Nate, I'm the California chapter's Education Specialist. I'm in my 20's and work as a biological field technician for the United States Geological Survey in the Western Ecological Research Center in San Diego. I've been fascinated with herps my whole life and finally, by God's grace, got a job doing what I love and working with endangered species. Next time you're in San Diego give me a ring and we can hang out.

Hopefully you can come down during one of the last two weekends this month when we are doing our our herp bioblitz in Orange County. We're going to have a lot of the other members out there at the same time looking for herps in some habitat that is normally off limits to herpers. It would be a great time for you to get to know some of the people in this group face to face and get to know some expert tips from some other savvy herpers

Another chance to meet a bunch of folks and herp would be at the Tejon ranch survey on the 9th!
Well, I've never had a job working with reptiles but I grew up fascinated with them and got my first snake at 8 years old. My intentions are not bad, and I don't expect anyone to take me to their "secret " spot. I wouldnt even ask that. I just want to get better at actually finding them, instead of just randomly walking across one once a year. I'm 28 years old, and my wife and i genuinely just love reptiles. I'll have to look into that oc blitz thing, thanks!
User avatar
Porter
Posts: 2418
Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by Porter »

I wouldn't normally do this, but I've been hovering around the last few days... I hate the internet, FB, and the potential confusion of tone transcendence from one mind to the next within the realm of an unreal reality. As much as I like to see some good photography, I'm no longer commenting personally because of it. It's got it's claws and chain hooks in me and only a Salamander medallion can break the curse. Any who...

You need to prove yourself... This may sound silly, but I'm about to tell you all you need to know. How you apply it, is a craft all your own. If you want to catch a snake, you gotta think like a snake... First thing you should do. Find lizards. Go to the outskirts of your city of any descend sized chunk of natural habitat and look for rocks and logs. Where there's lizards, there's potential for things that eat lizards. You want to find a frog eating snake, first you gotta find a frog. Once you've done that, if you were a snake, where would you want to live? Stand in one place and scan the area... would you want to be out in the open where a hawk can easily see you? Would you want to be in a place where you could get caught when chased, or would you rather get away? You want to be thirsty or do you want to have a sip every now and then? You want to hand out in that dry dusty old-spiderweb thicket fricken mess of stickle-berry bush brushel over-shaded snuff? ...or do you want to hang out at cove of Eden's grove that's sweetened? I found my first snake when I was a young kid too. Frogs and lizards before that. Go back to that! Use you imagination. You stick me in any habitat where theres a snake to be found and I'll find that snake. Read the contour of the earth... it's map full of clues. Worse comes to worse, you're wife will thank you for a good laugh when she sees you crawlining and wigglin on the ground ;) :P JK

Post some pics when find it 8-) and put you shades on
craigb
Posts: 638
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:02 am
Location: Southern Cal.
Contact:

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by craigb »

Another "trick" I learned from a buddy many years ago, is to start looking on east facing slopes. When hiking in the morning east facing slopes get the first and the most sunlight. Reptiles will come out of evening hiding to sit and bask in the first sunlight of the day for a few minutes to recharge/warm up. They will move to the heat to varying degrees. They don't always sit in direct sunlight and say here I am. But they will be in a place that is inconspicuous but warm.

This is why artificial cover works well. Boards and tin get warm quickly in sunlight. Reptiles do not even have to come out into the open to warm up.
User avatar
amtz.zero
Posts: 54
Joined: January 31st, 2011, 8:38 am

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by amtz.zero »

Good tips guys, thank you. I hadn't heard that about east facing slopes, that's cool.
craigb
Posts: 638
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:02 am
Location: Southern Cal.
Contact:

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by craigb »

SSSSHHHHHHhhhhhhhhuuuuusssshs...... it's a secret.... ;)
Now you can be the "lucky" herper. :thumb:
User avatar
amtz.zero
Posts: 54
Joined: January 31st, 2011, 8:38 am

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by amtz.zero »

Image
That's one of the only snakes I've found while i was actually herping, and not by random chance. I was ecstatic that day!
Image
Made my own snake hooks
Image

My wife was more interested in the horses than in finding any reptiles that day! :lol:
craigb
Posts: 638
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:02 am
Location: Southern Cal.
Contact:

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by craigb »

One last secret to herping.....


Happy wife, Happy life ! :D :D :D :D :D :D
User avatar
mattg
Posts: 284
Joined: December 7th, 2011, 9:14 pm
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, Ca

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by mattg »

craigb wrote:One last secret to herping.....


Happy wife, Happy life ! :D :D :D :D :D :D


^^^^^^^^100% what craig said . that being said, for me i do research that helps me figure out when and where might be a good time , i go out there and just acordingly . but i always expect minimal and just enjoy being outdoors so it always a win win for me . You can find out everthing you ant to know if you apply yourself, no doubt . good luck and as they say "you never know till you go". :beer: :beer:
User avatar
Brian Hubbs
Posts: 4735
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
Location: "Buy My Books"-land

Re: Herping mentor/buddy?

Post by Brian Hubbs »

Might also help to read a few books that tell you what to do...Two good one's are "Common KIngsnakes" and "Mountain Kings" by some guy named Hubbs who is supposedly the expert on those...:)
Post Reply