The following list is dedicated to helping you figure out what the best herping package is. We have included our own personal thoughts on each item, as well as a description on how each item can be used in the field to help further your field herping. We would suggest that you decide what items work best for you, and always keep safety in mind.
Permits: Permits are the first and foremost in field herping. Every state regulates herping differently and it is much better to purchase a $25 permit than end up paying a $300-$500 fine. So, we can’t stress enough that you know the rules of your state on collecting and hunting wild herps, and that you keep the permits on you at all times in case you are confronted by a DNR officer.
Snake Boots: In parts of the country where venomous snakes are prevalent we would seriously suggest a good pair of boots that are snake proof/puncture resistant. You never really know what is going to be behind that next log you step over, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. We see lots of people go out into the field with sandals on, and while this may seem comfortable on a hot day, we like to put our safety before comfort. We would suggest boots that are 15” tall and waterproof as well so that when muddy terrain, swamps, or creeks are encountered you can take them on with not problems or wet feet.
Gloves: A good pair of leather gloves or baseball gloves can go a long way to providing protection and comfort for your hands on a long day of flipping with a potato rake. Blisters form easily and we like to carry around a pair of glove to keep our hands from getting torn up if it’s going to be a long day of flipping rocks and logs. NOTE: these are not for you to free handle venomous snakes and WE DO NOT suggest that you ever feel that leather gloves are going to protect you from a venomous snake bite.
Water Bottle: It gets hot and humid quickly in the field and dehydration can ruin anybody’s day. We like to make sure we take 1-2 bottles of water with uc into the field whenever we go out. We’ve found ourselves hot and sweaty many times, turning home because we were too dehydrated to risk staying out any longer. Water is your friend and can lengthen your field experience.
Field Journal: We like to keep a small notebook with me and a pen whenever we go out into the field so that we can jot down notes about what we find, where we find it, interesting things we notice about it, weather details, time found, and other important notes that may benefit our herping later on by looking back at past finds. This can also benefit national organizations like naherp.com that are trying to keep survey notes about species all across the country.
Hooks: A good snake hook is a tool that cannot be overlooked when entering the field. Your safety can entirely depend on the hook you invest it. We suggest investing in a pro field hook or a stump-ripper because of the sturdy body these hooks are built on. This allows for you to flip logs and rocks while keeping your hands out of harms reach. Beyond that hooks are good for dealing with venomous snakes and aggressive non-venomous snakes you encounter. When trying to hook a snake it is best to try and get the hook under the front 1/3 of the body and allow the snake to sort of move over the hook and support itself on it. You should always treat the snake very gently because they are very fragile animals. It is very easy to break a snake’s rib with a hook or tongs if they are used improperly so we suggest that you hook any snake as if you were hooking your pet back home to make sure you don’t damage it in any way.
Tongs: Tongs are our “weapon” of choice in the field and we feel that they give us more versatility than any other handling tool we can bring along. Tongs are not used by many people because if used improperly they can really harm an animal by clamping down too hard on them. We, personally, don’t use the clamping mechanism unless it is a water snake and even then we only use it enough to get the snake where we can maneuver is easily. Tongs are great because they are normally built sturdy enough to flip rocks and logs with, and they allow for easier maneuvering of venomous species. We personally like the added protection the upper “jaw” of the tongs gives you, and we have just found that these are the tool for us. You have to figure out what’s best for you!
Potato Rake: The easiest and cheapest herping tool you can get! They’re normally $20-$30 at a local hardware store and they are great for flipping. They give an enormous amount of leverage for flipping logs and rocks, and they’re long enough were you can maneuver a venomous snake easily from a good distance. Many herpers like using rakes and the only downfall we’ve experienced with them is that they can be cumbersome when trying to walk long distances in the field.
Restraining Tubes: These are a tool that can be very helpful IF you are trying to do more scientific research and need to be able to handle a venomous snake safely. Basically restraining tubes are clear tubes of varying diameters that are capped at one end. You entice the snake to go into the tube a safe distance and then grab the snake at the base of the tube so that it cannot back out of the tube while you are taking blood samples, microchipping the snake, or doing some other test where close proximity is necessary. These should not be used just because you want to handle a venomous snake, and we would encourage you not to touch a venomous snake or “tail” it like you see on television because wild snakes are normally not going to react well to you doing this.
Lighting: Lights are another tool of unequalled value to a herper. They are amazing for seeing down into burrows that would be dark otherwise, and are great when looking at twilight for crepuscular and nocturnal species. We like to carry a headlamp and a lightweight floodlight with us if we’re going out at night. We like headlamps because even though they may not be a fashion statement, they are great for allowing you to spotlight areas while keeping your hands free to carry a hook, tongs, etc… They are also great for road cruising when you need to get out of the car and find your quarry on or alongside the road. A good, reliable light always comes in handy when you’re in the field.
Map/GPS: We carry a GPS with uc because niether of us was born with the gift of direction. We love being able to see the terrain we're in and place markers where our car is and where we've found previous catches so that we can find certain “hot spots” at later dates. Topographical maps can be great for the same thing when paired with a good compass, and keeping these locations on hand is very beneficial. Maps and GPS also come in great when you are road cruising and trying to find that perfect, remotely traveled road that passes through good habitat. A simple thing like a map can make all the difference in being an average herper and a great herper.
Camera: What better way to document and share your experiences with other herpers than a camera? We would suggest that all herpers get into the hobby of photography, as herping and photography tend to go hand-in-hand. We prefer to use a digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera, but anything from a film point-and-shoot so a top of the line digital SLR will do the trick. It is an amazing experience to look back at the herps you’ve found in film, and to share them with others is even more fulfilling in my personal opinion. We may not photograph everything we find, but we do photograph anything that we determine to be noteworthy and beautiful. What you photograph is entirely up to you.
Cell Phone: We don’t know what your plans are like, but if you are like us you spend a lot of the time in the field alone and a cell phone can be a life saver. We like to be in communication with somebody at all times in case the worst happens and we need medical attention or a rescue if bad weather hits suddenly. If you are out with a friend or a group of people you may find it easier to use walkie-talkies, but we always have our cell phones with us for safety issues because we don’t want to lose a leg as a result of not being able to get to a hospital in time to treat a venomous bite effectively.
Dip-net: Dip nets can be a great tool when looking for targeted amphibians in small ponds, marshes, or streams. They allow you to take a good overall survey of the shoreline and give you the best chance possible at finding your amphibious quarry when you might not have been able to see or retrieve is with your bare hands. Dip nets are a tool that is very simple and effective at finding amphibians.
Containers and Snake Bags: These items are used for the collection of animals when you’re in the field if you are trying to find snakes of certain localities or trying to locate that next new morph. However, many species of herps are illegal to take from the wild, and it is also illegal to collect in many locations so if you are going to collect, make sure you know the laws in your area. We personally don’t support collection from the field, but we do use bags and containers as a method of restraining animals until we are ready to photograph them and take down the data we need for our personal records. A good bag is long enough to allow for the snake to rest in the bottom and still have enough cloth to twist up and tie off so that the snake cannot escape.
Weapons: We feel that bringing weapons into the field is only asking for trouble. We don’t support the carrying of a concealed fire arm, and think that the only thing that is going to result from carrying one is injury or unnecessary death. We do not take any weapons into the field with us, and if you live in an area where bears or mountain lions may be present we suggest that you consider a mace of some sort before you consider carrying a weapon. Not only does this lead to violent confrontations, but DNR officers and other law enforcement officers will not take as kindly to your field herping as they would if you were unarmed. These are just our own personal thoughts and beliefs, and it is up to you to determine what yours are.